Indian hook-teeth moray

📖 Overview

Indian hook-teeth moray (Enchelycore propinqua), first described by Mohapatra, Smith, Mohanty, Mishra & Tudu, 2017 is a medium-sized fish in the family Muraenidae (order Anguilliformes). Adults typically reach 17.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Vertebrae: 120. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters:; anus at about mid-point of the body; snout blunt; eyes small and slightly closer to tip of snout than to rictus; jaws are slightly arched, mouth not entirely closed when jaw tips meet; dorsal-fin origin considerably behind the gill opening, but well before level of anus; teeth are sharply pointed, recurved; biserial intermaxillary and maxillary teeth, those of inner row larger and more widely spaced than outer row; two fang-like median intermaxillary teeth, 6 large fang-like vomerine teeth; dentary teeth biserial with the inner row more widely spaced than outer one; pre-dorsal vertebrae 20, pre-anal vertebrae 51, total vertebrae 120. Colouration: body reddish brown mottled with irregular creamy white spots along entire length; slightly darker cross bands dorsally alternating with paler interspaces, distinct in anterior part .Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Indian hook-teeth moray is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated. Tropical Indian Ocean: India.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute