Gymnothorax emmae Prokofiev, 2010

Family:  Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae
Max. size:  43 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 14 - 100 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Vietnam.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished by the following characters: uniserial intemaxillary, vomerine, maxillary and, as a rule, mandibular teeth; 121-129 vertebrae (mean vertebral formula MVF 2-47-125); reticulate-spotted pattern of head; three-six longitudinal rows of dark spots in the brachial area; numerous tortuous transverse dark bands on the body and fins, mostly not connected with each other; a thin white fringe at the end of dorsal and anal and on caudal fins (Ref. 85566).
Biology:  This species occurs only on soft grounds, silted or sandy, up to depths of 100 m (usually much less). Stomachs of examined specimens contained small fish and stomatopods. Eggs are large (1 mm in diameter) and pallid yellowish and spawners with mature gonads occurred in spring-summer. It has no commercial value and captured fish are used as forage for animals or discarded (Ref. 85566).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 November 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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