Gymnothorax ocellatus Agassiz, 1831
Ocellated moray
photo by Carvalho Filho, A.

Family:  Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae
Max. size:  90 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 160 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Greater Antilles, including the Central American coast from Nicaragua to northern coast of South America.
Diagnosis:  Regularly spaced blackish spots on dorsal fin; anal fin with a series of black and white areas; gill opening roundish and located on midside of body; corner of mouth and gill-opening not black (Ref. 13608).
Biology:  A solitary species (Ref. 26340) commonly found on deep soft bottom areas and banks, rarely on coral reefs (Ref. 9710). Also in estuaries and lagoons (Ref. 42064). Feeds mainly on crustaceans (Ref. 42064). Probably consumed fresh or salted (Ref. 3255).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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