Spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa)

General data

Main name: Spotted moray
Local names: Red moray, Speckled moray, White cong, White jawed moray, White-chinned moray, White-jawed moray eel, Speckled moray, Congo, Common spotted moray, Common conger
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: North America, South America
Distribution: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean

Classification

Description

The spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa) is a medium to large moray eel. Other common names include conger, spotted eel, red moray, speckled moray, white cong, white jawed moray, white-chinned moray and white-jawed moray eel. Spotted eels have a long snake-like body, white or pale yellow in general with small overlapping reddish brown to dark-brown spots. They are commonly 60 cm (24 in) in length and can grow up to 2 m (6.6 ft). They inhabit the Western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. They are also found around the Mid- and Eastern Atlantic islands as far south as St Helena. They are typically found anywhere from the surface to a depth of 200 m (660 ft). Spotted morays are solitary animals, and usually hide in narrow crevices and holes in reef structures with only their heads peeking out. They are active during the day, feeding on crustaceans, molluscs and fish at or near the sea bottom. Their bite can be dangerous to humans due to damage caused by the pull-back effect of the bite itself, and potential toxins that may be released into the wound. There is a minor fishery for spotted eels, and they are also kept in aquariums until their size makes it impractical to do so.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Actinistia - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
    
    Anguillidae - Eels->
    
    Muraenidae - Moray eels->
    
    Muraena - Moray eels->
    
    Echidna - Echidna->
    
    Gymnothorax - Gymnothorax->
    
    Green moray (Gymnothorax funebris)
    
    Goldentail moray (Gymnothorax miliaris)
    
    Purplemouth moray (Gymnothorax vicinus)
    
    Yellow moray (Gymnothorax prasinus)
    
    Gymnothorax undulatus (Gymnothorax undulatus)
    
    Laced moray (Gymnothorax favagineus)
    
    Fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus)
    
    Geometric moray (Gymnothorax griseus)
    
    Giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus)
    
    Turkey moray (Gymnothorax meleagris)
    
    Spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa)
    
    Yellowmouth moray (Gymnothorax nudivomer)
    
    Dark moray (Gymnothorax afer)
    
    Whitemargin moray (Gymnothorax albimarginatus)
    
    Narrowtail moray (Gymnothorax angusticauda)
    
    Gymnothorax angusticeps (Gymnothorax angusticeps)
    
    Lord howe moray (Gymnothorax annasona)
    
    Ringed moray (Gymnothorax annulatus)
    
    Atoll moray (Gymnothorax atolli)
    
    South Pacific moray (Gymnothorax australicola)
    
    Southern moray (Gymnothorax austrinus)
    
    Canary moray (Gymnothorax bacalladoi)
    
    Barane’s moray (Gymnothorax baranesi)
    
    Deep-dwelling moray (Gymnothorax bathyphilus)
    
    Y-patterned moray (Gymnothorax berndti)
    
    Blackcheek moray (Gymnothorax breedeni)
    
    Latticetail Moray (Gymnothorax buroensis)
    
    Panamic green moray (Gymnothorax castaneus)
    
    Castle’s moray (Gymnothorax castlei)
    
    Head-spot moray (Gymnothorax cephalospilus)
    
    Lipspot moray (Gymnothorax chilospilus)
    
    Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus)
    
    Saddled moray (Gymnothorax conspersus)
    
    Sieve-patterned moray (Gymnothorax cribroris)
    
    Flores mud moray (Gymnothorax davidsmithi)
    
    Finespotted moray (Gymnothorax dovii)
    
    Elegant moray (Gymnothorax elegans)
    
    Gymnothorax emmae (Gymnothorax emmae)
    
    Enigmatic moray (Gymnothorax enigmaticus)
    
    Spottail moray (Gymnothorax equatorialis)
    
    Abbott’s moray eel (Gymnothorax eurostus)
    
    Gymnothorax eurygnathos (Gymnothorax eurygnathos)
    
    Yellow-edged moray (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
    
    Gymnothorax flavoculus (Gymnothorax flavoculus)
    
    Gymnothorax formosus (Gymnothorax formosus)
    
    Brown spotted moray (Gymnothorax fuscomaculatus)
    
    Slendertail moray (Gymnothorax gracilicauda)
    
    Gymnothorax hansi (Gymnothorax hansi)
    
    Liver-colored moray eel (Gymnothorax hepaticus)
    
    Herre’s moray (Gymnothorax herrei)
    
    Lichen moray (Gymnothorax hubbsi)
    
    Whitetip moray (Gymnothorax intesi)
    
    Gymnothorax isingteena (Gymnothorax isingteena)
    
    Whitespotted moray (Gymnothorax johnsoni)
    
    Kidako moray (Gymnothorax kidako)
    
    Blacktail moray (Gymnothorax kolpos)
    
    Short-tooth moray (Gymnothorax kontodontos)
    
    Nasal-flap moray (Gymnothorax longinaris)
    
    Long moray (Gymnothorax longinquus)
    
    Sharktooth moray (Gymnothorax maderensis)
    
    Spotjaw moray (Gymnothorax mareei)
    
    Blotch-necked moray (Gymnothorax margaritophorus)
    
    Marshall Islands moray (Gymnothorax marshallensis)
    
    Manyband moray (Gymnothorax mccoskeri)
    
    Oman moray (Gymnothorax megaspilus)
    
    Gymnothorax melanosomatus (Gymnothorax melanosomatus)
    
    Dwarf moray (Gymnothorax melatremus)
    
    Smallspot moray (Gymnothorax microstictus)
    
    Lesser moray (Gymnothorax minor)
    
    Moluccan moray (Gymnothorax moluccensis)
    
    Drab moray (Gymnothorax monochrous)
    
    One-spot moray (Gymnothorax monostigma)
    
    California moray (Gymnothorax mordax)
    
    Easter island moray (Gymnothorax nasuta)
    
    Gymnothorax neglectus (Gymnothorax neglectus)
    
    Blackedge moray (Gymnothorax nigromarginatus)
    
    Snowflake-patched moray (Gymnothorax niphostigmus)
    
    Grey moray (Gymnothorax nubilus)
    
    Nutting's moray (Gymnothorax nuttingi)
    
    Griffin’s moray (Gymnothorax obesus)
    
    Ocellated moray (Gymnothorax ocellatus)
    
    Masked moray (Gymnothorax panamensis)
    
    Gymnothorax parini (Gymnothorax parini)
    
    Reticulated moray (Gymnothorax paucivertebralis)
    
    Gymnothorax phalarus (Gymnothorax phalarus)
    
    Pharaoh’s moray (Gymnothorax pharaonis)
    
    Ghost moray (Gymnothorax phasmatodes)
    
    Philippines moray (Gymnothorax philippinus)
    
    Paintspotted moray (Gymnothorax pictus)
    
    Pike’s moray (Gymnothorax pikei)
    
    Pinda moray (Gymnothorax pindae)
    
    Variegated moray eel (Gymnothorax poikilospilus)
    
    Polygon moray (Gymnothorax polygonius)
    
    Manyvertebrae moray (Gymnothorax polyspondylus)
    
    Freshwater moray (Gymnothorax polyuranodon)
    
    Lowfin moray (Gymnothorax porphyreus)
    
    Australian mottled moray (Gymnothorax prionodon)
    
    Sawtooth moray (Gymnothorax prismodon)
    
    Gymnothorax prolatus (Gymnothorax prolatus)
    
    False brown moray (Gymnothorax pseudoherrei)
    
    False black body moray eel (Gymnothorax pseudomelanosomatus)
    
    Highfin moray (Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus)
    
    Bengal low-fin moray (Gymnothorax pseudotile)
    
    Bars’n spots moray (Gymnothorax punctatofasciatus)
    
    Red Sea whitespotted moray (Gymnothorax punctatus)
    
    Randall’s moray (Gymnothorax randalli)
    
    Reeve’s moray (Gymnothorax reevesii)
    
    Moray eel (Gymnothorax reticularis)
    
    Richardson’s moray (Gymnothorax richardsonii)
    
    Robins’ moray (Gymnothorax robinsi)
    
    Banded moray (Gymnothorax rueppelliae)
    
    Gymnothorax sagenodeta (Gymnothorax sagenodeta)
    
    Gymnothorax sagmacephalus (Gymnothorax sagmacephalus)
    
    Honeycomb moray (Gymnothorax saxicola)
    
    Gymnothorax serratidens (Gymnothorax serratidens)
    
    Gymnothorax shaoi (Gymnothorax shaoi)
    
    Indian white spotted moray eel (Gymnothorax smithi)
    
    Gymnothorax sokotrensis (Gymnothorax sokotrensis)
    
    Steindachner’s moray eel (Gymnothorax steindachneri)
    
    Taiwanese moray eel (Gymnothorax taiwanensis)
    
    Greyface moray (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus)
    
    Indian mud moray (Gymnothorax tile)
    
    Brown moray (Gymnothorax unicolor)
    
    Gymnothorax vagrans (Gymnothorax vagrans)
    
    White-edged moray (Gymnothorax verrilli)
    
    Gymnothorax visakhaensis (Gymnothorax visakhaensis)
    
    Gymnothorax walvisensis (Gymnothorax walvisensis)
    
    Woodward’s moray (Gymnothorax woodwardi)
    
    Y-bar moray (Gymnothorax ypsilon)
    
    Barredfin moray (Gymnothorax zonipectis)
    
    Gymnomuraena - Zebra moray->
    
    Anarchias - Anarchias->
    
    Channomuraena - Channomuraena->
    
    Enchelycore - Enchelycore->
    
    Enchelynassa - Enchelynassa->
    
    Cirrimaxilla - Cirrimaxilla->
    
    Diaphenchelys - Diaphenchelys->
    
    Monopenchelys - Monopenchelys->
    
    Rhinomuraena - Rhinomuraena->
    
    Pseudechidna - Pseudechidna->
    
    Uropterygius - Uropterygius->
    
    Scuticaria - Scuticaria->
    
    Strophidon - Strophidon->
    
    Congridae - Conger and garden eels->
    
    Ophichthidae - Snake Eels->
    
    Chlopsidae - False morays->
    
    Colocongridae - Short-tail eels->
    
    Derichthyidae - Longneck eels->
    
    Heterenchelyidae - Mud eels->
    
    Moringuidae - Worm or spaghetti eels->
    
    Muraenesocidae - Pike congers->
    
    Myrocongridae - Atlantic red eels->
    
    Nemichthyidae - Snipe eels->
    
    Nettastomatidae - Duckbill eels->
    
    Protanguillidae - Protoanguillids->
    
    Serrivomeridae - Sawtooth eels->
    
    Synaphobranchidae - Cutthroat eels->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipnoi - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons and Paddlefishes->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->