Yellowmargin Moray

Gymnothorax flavimarginatus is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae.

Description

Color of body is yellowish, densely mottled with dark brown. A front of head is purplish grey. Posterior margins of fins are yellow-green. Its gill is opening in a black blotch. Eyes are reddish brown. Juveniles sometimes are bright yellow with brown blotches. Its length is up to 240 cm.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and South Africa eastward to the Tuamoto and Austral islands, north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to New Caledonia. Eastern Pacific: Costa Rica, Panama and the Galapagos. Southeast Atlantic: South Africa.

Habitat

It occurs in coral or rocky areas of reef flats and protected shorelines to seaward reefs. It feeds on cephalopods, fishes, and crustaceans. Most often appears on the reef after a fish has been speared during daylight. The regularity and promptness of such appearances make it clear that G. flavimarginatus is especially sensitive to stimuli emanating from an injured or stressed fish. It is found at depths to 150 m. This moray eel was recently identified as natural predator of the lionfish Pterois miles in its native habitat in the Red Sea.

Threat to humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning.