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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible ⚡ Reports of ciguatera poisoning 🌡️ Tropical

Yellow-edged moray

Gymnothorax flavimarginatus Rüppell, 1830
Gymnothorax Flavimarginatus (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
Gymnothorax Flavimarginatus (Gymnothorax flavimarginatus)
Max Length
240 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.2
Depth
0–150 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
84.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Along drop-offs . Benthic . Occurs in coral or rocky areas of reef flats and protected shorelines to seaward reefs. Feeds on cephalopods , fishes, and crustaceans . Most often appears on the reef after a fish has been speared during daylight. The regularity and promptness of such appearances make it clear that G. flavimarginatus is especially sensitive to stimuli emanating from an injured or stressed fish . Eaten in some parts of the Indo-Pacific . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. Solitary and curious, usually seen with head protruding (Ref 90102).

Scientific Name
Gymnothorax flavimarginatus
Authority
Rüppell, 1830
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
240 cm
Depth Range
0–150 m
Latitude
36°S – 35°N
Trophic Level
4.2
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
84.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Anguilliformes
Anguilliformes
Family
Muraenidae
Muraenidae
Genus
Gymnothorax
Gymnothorax
Species
Yellow-edged moray
Gymnothorax flavimarginatus

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 132 - 140. Reddish eyes . Color yellowish, densely mottled with dark brown; front of head purplish grey; posterior margins of fins yellow-green; gill opening in a black blotch. Juveniles sometimes bright yellow with brown blotches . : eel-like; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Yellow-edged moray is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 150 m . Tropical; 35°N - 36°S, 19°E - 77°W Southeast Atlantic: South Africa.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
4.2±0.72
🧍 Solitary
Food Items

cephalopods (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00035 × L3.36 (TL)
Max TL
240cm
Vertebrae
136

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2011

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
84.00/100
Very High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.2
Apex / Top predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
35°N – 36°S
Described By
Rüppell, 1830

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Yellow-edged moray is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.9 g
Omega-3 (total) 97 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Yellow-edged moray has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
? flavomarginatus Rüppell 1830 Synonym
Gymnothorax flavomarginatus Rüppell 1830 Synonym
Gymnothorax mauritianus Kaup 1856 Synonym
Gymnothorax thalassopterus Jenkins 1903 Synonym
Gymnothorax viridipinnnis Bliss 1883 Synonym
Lycodontis flavimarginatus Rüppell 1830 Synonym
Lycodontis flavomarginatus Rüppell 1830 Synonym
Lycodontis lemayi Smith 1949 Synonym
Muraena batuensis Bleeker, 1856-57 - Synonym
Muraena flavimarginata Rüppell 1830 Synonym
Muraena mauritiana Kaup 1856 Synonym
Muraena viridipinna Seale 1917 Heterotypic

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 12 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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