Fun Fimbriated Moray Facts For Kids
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The fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) is a species of moray eel of the family Muraenidae. This species is also known by the names darkspotted moray, dark-spotted moray eel, fimbriated moray eel, spot-faced moray eel, spot-face moray, and yellow-head moray eel.
This is a medium-sized moray that has a serpentine body. The yellow-head moray is widespread in the outer slopes of coral reef areas, lagoons, top reef areas, and harbors in the native range of Indo-Pacific water areas. They are found at a depth of up to 164 ft (50 m).
Fimbriated morays open and close their mouths to let water enter their gills for respiration. This is how they live in the marine environment.
The identification of the fimbriated moray can be done by the pale coloration on the adults. They have small black spots on the face and the spots change size with age.
The spots become large with age and the large spots start joining with age into vertical bars. The mouth has teeth that help in tearing the flesh off prey rather than grinding.
Moray eels stay in the wild environment hidden and only come out of the lair at night to hunt for prey along the reef.
The distribution range in the wild is found in Madagascar, Polynesia, south Japan, and New Caledonia and they feed on fishes, shrimps, and crustaceans. However, in captivity, they can be given food like scallops, shrimp, fresh squid, fish, and flesh of crustaceans.
They should not be kept with small fishes unless the fish is more than 20 % of the body size of thwaw moray eels.
For more related content, check out these conger eel facts and amberjack facts.
Fimbriated Moray Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a fimbriated moray?
The fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) is a species of moray eel found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area.
What class of animal does a fimbriated moray belong to?
The fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) falls under the class of Actinopterygii in the kingdom of Animalia. It is part of the genus Gymnothorax.
How many fimbriated morays are there in the world?
The fimbriated moray eel's population is not known. They are commonly found all around the world in their preferred habitats. They are even found in a captive environment and fish enthusiasts love these animals in their homes. However, keeping these moral eels needs proper care as their behavior is a little difficult.
Where does a fimbriated moray live?
The distribution range of these moray eels is limited to the marine habitats of the Indo-Pacific region. They are found in the water areas and islands around Madagascar, Indonesia, southern Japan, Australia, and Micronesia.
What is a fimbriated moray's habitat?
This moray eel's habitats consist of coral reefs and inshore waters. These moray eels are very shy and would probably move in the opposite direction if they see you. These fimbriated moral eels are found at a depth between 147.6-164 ft (45-50 m).
They are known to hide around crevices and holes near debris, rock, and rubble in caves. Sometimes, these morays are also found hiding in harbors of protected inshore waters. They do not usually come out in the open in the daytime, however, at night these moray eels actively prey in the region.
In a captive environment, a pair can be kept in a tank of size 250 gal (946.3 L). If the tank size is bigger, they can live with other eels too.
Who do fimbriated morays live with?
The morays live a solitary life, live in pairs, or with other morays.
How long does a fimbriated moray live?
There has been a fimbriated moray eel in captivity that has been alive for 18 years. The usual lifespan should have a range between 10-30 years.
How do they reproduce?
Courtship occurs when the temperature is high in the water. These moray eels are known to wrap their bodies around each other and release sperm and eggs. The larvae float in the range for eight months until they become elvers and then mature to moray eels.
What is their conservation status?
The fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) is categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The population is quite abundant and the range is also widespread. There is currently no threat to the population of this species. The distribution range also overlaps numerous marine protected areas.
Fimbriated Moray Fun Facts
What do fimbriated morays look like?
The description of the fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) is characterized by the serpentine-shaped body. The head of this species is green in color while the body is light yellow in color. Both the head and body are covered with irregular black spots.
These black spots change size with age and the bigger spots merge into vertical bars. Distinctive white marks are seen on the corner of the mouth. The head is smaller compared to other moral eel species and there is a slight thickening behind the head. Large eyes are present.
The mouth also has large teeth for tearing flesh. Adults are colored pale. Some even say the body is colored light brown to white cream.
Nembers of the genus Gymnothorax are known to open and close their mouths to let the water enter their gills. This is the respiration process of this medium-sized moray eel.
How cute are they?
They are considered cute by many due to their coloration.
How do they communicate?
Information is not available on how these eels communicate with each other. As seen with other eels, communication is done by tactically and chemically.
How big is a fimbriated moray?
The length of the fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) reaches 31 in (78.7 cm).
How fast can a fimbriated moray swim?
They usually are not seen swimming. This moray eel species remains hidden in rocks and crevices.
How much does a fimbriated moray weigh?
The weight is not known. A giant moray eel can reach a weight of 66 lb (30 kg).
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no different male and female names for the fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus).
What would you call a baby fimbriated moray?
A baby fimbriated moray eel is called a larva. The larvae then changes to elvers, and then to adults.
What do they eat?
The diet in the wild consists mainly of small fish and crustaceans. Moray eels are nocturnal feeders and spend the days in crevices in the rocks and caves. They only come out in the open at night to actively prey on food. They feed on almost everything smaller than them.
The diet of the fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) in captivity includes krill, raw table shrimp, squid, clam, and mussels. They will also eat anything less than 20% of their length if kept in an enclosure. They can eat anything that can enter through the mouth of this species.
Are they poisonous?
This species secretes mucus over its skin which sometimes contains toxins.
Would they make a good pet?
The fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) is kept as a pet by many. However, before committing to taking in a moray eel, the behavior of the species should be known.
These fimbriated moray eels can be paired with other eels. They are also compatible with some fish species bigger than what the moray eels can prey on, like tangs, groupers, and lionfish. They should not be however kept with gobies, clownfish, dartfish, dottybacks, and some species of wrasses.
It is very important to know what food should be given to the moray eel species and to make sure that a proper diet is maintained.
Did you know...
The fimbriated moray eel (Gymnothorax fimbriatus) usually does not attack humans. However, if threatened, the eels can attack viciously and the toxin can kill humans.
Eel bites are painful and can cause extensive bleeding. They have sharp teeth that can tear through flesh.
What is the rarest eel?
The European eel is considered the rarest. It is Critically Endangered at the moment.
What is the difference between a fimbriated moray and a moray eel?
The fimbriated moray is a species of moray eel.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these eel facts and ribbon eel facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable eel coloring pages.
Main image by Bernard Dupont
Second image by Rickard Zerpe
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