THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

102 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
like other species in its family, has a great sense
of smell coupled with poor vision. Bottom line:
watch your fingers and do not hand feed!
Honeycomb Moray
Gymnothorax favagineus (Muraenidae)
Moray Eels
Distribution: S. Red Sea, East. Africa to Papua
New Guinea, and Great Barrier Reef.
Habitat: Reef flats and outer reef slopes of
continental reefs, 1–45 m.
Appearance: Length reported to 3 m, thus
one of the two largest of Indo-Pacific moray
eels. Covered with dark spots the size of their
eye that form a honeycomb pattern. Some
individuals colored almost totally black.
Diet: Predator upon cephalopods, crustaceans
and small fishes.
Reproduction and Development: Distinctive
leptocephalus larvae.
Remarks: Spots variable between individuals
and size, often in relation to habitat: those in
clear coral reefs usually have proportionally
less black than those found in turbid waters.
Often rest in crevasses with cleaner wrasses or
cleaner shrimps.
Whitemouth Moray
Gymnothorax meleagris (Muraenidae)
Morays
Distribution: Red Sea and East Africa to
the Marquesas and Mangaréva, north to the
Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to Lord
Howe Island, west to Galapagos.
Habitat: Coral-rich lagoon and outer reefs
among rocky, boulder strewn areas and
walls. Depth to 1–51 m. Juveniles often in the
intertidal zone.
Appearance: Dark brown to reddish brown
with numerous close-set white spots. Length
to 1.2 m. The inside of the mouth is white, thus
the common name.
Diet: Primarily fish, also crustaceans.
Reproduction and Development: Like many
true eels, has a lengthy leptocephalus larval
stage.
Remarks: Constantly open and close mouth,
an action required for respiration; not a
threatening behavior.
When not feeding, rests in a hole or crack with
head and forebody exposed.
The extended larval phase has resulted in this
species’ broad distribution.
Hunts diurnally during low tide, and likely
also seeks prey nocturnally.
The comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) has a color
pattern that mimics the whitemouth moray.
This small fish is known to take cover in coral
crevices when alarmed, displaying only its tail,
which looks very much like the head of the
moray, even including an eyespot!
California Moray Eel
Gymnothorax mordax (Muraenidae)
Morays
Distribution: Point Conception to south Baja
California.
Habitat: Rocky subtidal. Diurnally rests in
crevices or holes, head usually protruding.
Depth 6–40 m, typically 0.6–20 m.
Appearance: Length to 1.5 m. No pectoral fins
(all eels lack pelvic fins). Dark brown to green,
mottled.
Diet: Feeds nocturnally upon crustaceans,
octopuses and fishes. Prey detected by smell.
Reproduction and Development: Oviparous.
Waters off southern California probably too cold
for reproduction of this species, thus recruitment
(there) is by larvae that drift north from Baja. 30
cm individuals about 2 years old.
Mortality/Longevity: Live to more than 30 years.
Remarks: Constantly open and close mouth.
Moray eels do this to aid respiration. The behavior
is not a threat display.
Octopuses have a chemical in their ink that
temporarily disables the moray’s sense of
smell.
Ribbon Eel
Rhinomuraena quaesita (Muraenidae)
Morays
Distribution: Indo-Pacific from East Africa to
the Tuamota Archipelago (French Polynesia).
Habitat: Lagoons and associated reefs at
depths up to 57 m.
Appearance: Long thin body and high dorsal
fins. Juveniles are black with a yellow dorsal
fin, males are mostly blue, and females are
mostly yellow. Length up to 130 cm.
Diet: Mostly small fishes, some invertebrates.
Reproduction and Development: Protandrous