Barred Moray

Echidna polyzona is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae. It was described by John Richardson in 1845, originally under the genus Muraena.

Description

Males can reach a maximum total length of 72.3 centimetres (28.5 in). Body is grey with fine pale barring. Young with 25-30 dark brown bars separated by white narrow interspaces; bars become obscure with age where in large adults, the pattern becomes mottled brown. Corner of mouth is dark brown. Head usually lighter, yellowish with variable dark blotching.

Distribution

It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, East Africa, the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesan Islands, the Tuamoto Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Habitat

It dwells at a depth range of 2 to 20 metres (6.6 to 65.6 ft), and leads a benthic lifestyle in reefs and shallow lagoons.

The Barred moray's diet consists of shrimp such as Saron marmoratus, crabs, isopods, and polychaetes, which it feeds on during both day and night. It is of commercial interest to both subsistence fisheries and the aquarium trade.