|
| |
Morays, Family Muraenidae: 36 Species Recorded
Though Indonesia isn't quite the "Land of the Puhi" as Hawai'i, there are
moray eels to be found here, sometimes in mixed species association. The most
commonly encountered shown below.
|
The Snowflake, Starry, or
Diamond-Backed Moray, Echidna nebulosa (Ahl 1789) To about thirty inches total length. Base color of silver
gray with black and yellow "snowflakes" randomly sprinkled over
the lower body. A crab and shrimp eater that rarely bites. |
|
| Gymnothorax fimbriatus (Bennett 1832), the Fimbriated
Moray. To 80 cm. (32 inches) in length. Indo-Pacific; Madagascar to Society
Islands. Feed on fish and crustaceans at night. |
 
|
| Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker 1859), Giant Moray. To
ten feet, 3 meters in length. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa to
Hawai'i. Feeds principally on fishes, secondarily on crustaceans. Largest
Moray species according to Fishbase. Shown here in Northern Sulawesi. |
 |
| Gymnothorax meleagris (Shaw & Nodder 1795), the
White Mouth Moray. Brown to black with numerous white spots. Dark spot
around gill opening. Indo-Pacific. To
about forty inches in length. N. Sulawesi images. |
  |
| Gymnothorax pictus (Ahl
1789), the Peppered Moray. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to the eastern
Pacific, Hawai'i. To five feet in length. |
|
| Gymnothorax (Siderea)
thyrsoidea (Richardson 1845), the White-Eyed Moray. Indo-Pacific;
Christmas Island to French Polynesia. To twenty six inches in length.
Found in shallow water, often with other Moray species. N. Sulawesi
images. |
 
|
|
Rhinomuraena quaesita Garman
1888, the
Ribbon Moray Eel. Fiji image at right or
a changeling female and male.
Below, a juvenile (black) and male in N. Sulawesi and a female in Mabul,
Malaysia. Females are rare and mostly to all yellow
in color. Best approached while vigorously rubbing, thumbing a
pointer near the base of the fish's hole, then wiggling it in front to
draw it out.
|
 
|
Snake & Worm Eels, Family Ophichthidae: 31 species recorded from
Indonesia
Of all places in the world, Indo. is likely where you'll actually get to see
a live Snake Eel... they're encountered during the day with their snouts
sticking out in "muck" areas, and out and about hunting by night. Scary at
times, they pose no danger to divers.
| Brachysomophis cirrocheilos (Bleeker 1857), the
Stargazer Snake Eel. Looking frightening like its namesake (the
uranoscopid stargazer)... come to think of it, looking more terrifying...
Indo-West Pacific; Red Sea to Indonesia. To four feet in length. N.
Sulawesi image. |
 
|
| Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup 1856), the Highfin Snake
Eel. Seen mostly in the sand by day. Darken with age, size. A younger
individual in Mabul, Malaysia and a larger/older one with a friendly
shrimp on its snout and one out and about in N. Sulawesi. |
Conger & Garden Eels, Family Congridae: Nine described Indo. species.
| Conger cinereus
Ruppell 1830, the Mustache
Conger. Indo-Pacific. To four
feet in length. Found
in holes in rocky caves near
the bottom. Looks like a sea monster, but is a
gentle giant. Hawaii pic during the day. |
 |
| Taenioconger hassi (Klausewitz & Eibl-Eibesfeldt
1959), the Spotted Garden Eel. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa, over to
Australia, up to the Ogasawaras to Micronesia. Sandy reef slopes,
generally below 15 meters. |
|
| |
|
