Dragon Moray

Enchelycore pardalis is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

Description

This eel is characterized by its narrow, curved jaws, vivid red stripes on the head, and elongated tubular nostrils. It has a brown to brownish-orange body with irregular dark brown bars on the body and many dark-edged white spots and blotches and bars - and long tubular anterior nostrils on the snout and long tubular posterior nostrils above the front of the eye. Its length is up to 92 cm.

Distribution

The Leopard moray eel is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific oceans from Réunion to the Hawaiian, Line and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, southern Korea, and south to New Caledonia.

Habitat

It inhabits coral and rocky reefs at depth range from 8 to 60 m. It is chiefly nocturnal; because of this and its preference for cryptic habitats, it is seldom seen. It feeds primarily on fishes and small cephalopods.