Masked Moray

Other names: Blackcheek Moray.

Description

The blackcheek moray is a medium-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 100 cm, but usually morays observed are often smaller. The background body color is brown speckled in a relatively high density with dark spots. The moray is easily identifiable by the irregular black spot starting from the eye and finishing in the corner of the mouth. Otherwise, its anal orifice and its gills aperture are black.

Distribution and habitat

The blackcheek moray is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from eastern coast of Africa until oceanic islands from the Pacific Ocean like Polynesia but not Hawaii. It is a very common moray on the Maldives reefs.

This moray likes reefs composed of rubble and debris of dead coral in which it finds its shelter, often on the outer slopes between 4 and 40 meters deep.

Biology

The blackcheek moray is rather solitary and very territorial, it is likely to bite any foreign body entering its vigilance area. It also lives in association with cleaner shrimps and the Anthias.

It feeds on fish at night, when it comes out of its lair.