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Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker, 1859)
GIANT MORAY
Muraena javanica Bleeker, 1859

Life   Vertebrata   Fish   Muraenidae   Gymnothorax



Gymnothorax javanicus
© Copyright Ross Robertson, 2006 · 12
Gymnothorax javanicus

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See
IDnature guides
Overview
Main identification features
  • green-brown + scattered dark spots
  • gill opening in black blotch
Relatively deep bodied, especially adults - depth 6-14% of length; head length 11-15% of total length; dorsal and anal fins covered with skin, but very evident, with origins at or (in dorsal) before anus; front nostril simple tube; posterior nostril at level of profile of head; lower jaw straight, mouth closes completely; teeth sharp, those space on front roof of mouth in 2 rows at front; upper jaw teeth in 1-2 rows, inner row not very large;2-3 large canines in single row at front between top jaws.

Green to green-brown; with small squarish dark spots; gill opening in a large round black spot.

Size: 300 cm.

Habitat: rocky and coral reefs.

Depth: 1-50 m.

Indo-Pacific; vagrant at Cocos, NW Costa Rica, western Panama and the Galapagos.


Attributes

Abundance: Common.

Cites: Not listed.

Climate Zone: Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo).

Depth Range Max: 50 m.

Depth Range Min: 1 m.

Diet: mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs); bony fishes.

Eastern Pacific Range: Northern limit=11; Southern limit=-2; Western limit=-93; Eastern limit=-82; Latitudinal range=13; Longitudinal range=11.

Egg Type: Pelagic; Pelagic larva.

Feeding Group: Carnivore.

FishBase Habitat: Reef Associated.

Global Endemism: All Pacific (West + Central + East); Indo-Pacific only (Indian + Pacific Oceans); TEP non-endemic; "Transpacific" (East + Central &/or West Pacific); All species.

Habitat: Corals; Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom); Rocks; Reef (rock &/or coral); Reef only.

Inshore Offshore: Inshore; Inshore Only.

IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed.

Length Max: 300 cm.

Regional Endemism: Island (s) only; Island (s); Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic; Eastern Pacific non-endemic; All species.

Residency: Vagrant.

Salinity: Marine; Marine Only.

Water Column Position: Bottom; Bottom only;

Names
Scientific source:
Links to other sites


References
  • Bleeker,., 1859., Over eenige vischsoorten van de Zuidkust-wateren van Java., Natuurkd. Tijdschr. Neder. Indië, 19:329-352.


Acknowledgements

I thank Ashley MacDonald and John Pickering, University of Georgia, for technical support in building this page.


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