| Giant moray | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Muraenidae |
| Genus: | Gymnothorax |
| Species: | G. javanicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnothorax javanicus (Bleeker, 1859) | |
The giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus) is a species of moray eel found at reefs in the Indo-Pacific. In terms of body mass, it is the largest moray eel (the slender giant moray is longer).[1]
Range and habitat
The giant moray is widespread in the Indo-Pacific region, being found in the Red Sea and East Africa, the Pitcairn group, north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to New Caledonia, Fiji and the Austral Islands.[1][2] It is found in lagoons and seaward reefs.[2]
Description
As the name suggests, this is a large eel, reaching up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in length and 30 kg (66 lb) in weight. While juveniles are tan in colour with large black spots, adults have black specks that grade into leopard-like spots behind the head and a black area surrounding the gill opening.[2]
Diet
The giant moray mainly feeds on fish and crustaceans.[2] It has been known to engages in cooperative hunting with the roving coralgrouper (Plectropomus pessuliferus).[3]
Hazards
This species may be hazardous to people in two ways:
- Being at the top of the food chain it is likely to cause ciguatera poisoning if eaten.[1][2]
- It has been implicated in provoked and unprovoked attacks on scuba divers.
Source: http://Wikipedia.org
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