Banded moray
📖 Overview
Found in clear waters of lagoons and seaward reefs . Benthic . Adults feed on fishes and crustaceans, mainly at night. Nervous and aggressive . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 125 - 135. Color pale greyish brown with 16-21 dark bars; bars becoming indistinct on large individuals; top of head yellow; corner of mouth with a dark brown spot. : eel-like; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Banded moray is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; pH range: ? - 28.0; depth range 0 - 40 m . Tropical; 30°N - 30°S East Africa (south to Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, Ref.
🌿 Ecology
fishes and crustaceans, mainly at night
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Banded moray is an edible species."
- 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
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 114 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Banded moray has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Banded Reef-eel · Black Barred Eel · Rüppell's Moray Eel · Yellow-headed Moray Eel · Yellowhead Moray, Banded moray, Rüppell's moray · banded moray |
| 🇫🇷French | Murène à bandes brunes · Murène à tête jaune |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | クラカケウツボ |
| 🌍TAH | puhi 'oiro |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 寬帶裸胸鯙 · 糬鰻 · 薯鰻 · 虎鰻 · 錢鰻 · 鞍斑裸胸鱔 · 鞍斑裸胸鳝 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? ruppelli | McClelland | 1845 | Synonym |
| Dalophis rueppelliae | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Gymnothorax leucacme | Jenkins | 1903 | Synonym |
| Gymnothorax petelli | Bleeker | 1856 | Synonym |
| Gymnothorax rueppellii | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Gymnothorax ruppelliae | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Gymnothorax ruppellii | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Gymnothorax signifer | Bliss | 1883 | Synonym |
| Gymnothorax waialuae | Snyder | 1904 | Synonym |
| Lycodontis petelli | Bleeker | 1856 | Synonym |
| Lycodontis rueppelli | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Lycodontis rueppelliae | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Lycodontis ruppelli | McClelland | 1845 | Synonym |
| Muraena interrupta | Kaup | 1856 | Synonym |
| Muraena nigrolineata | Kaup | 1856 | Synonym |
| Muraena petelli | Bleeker | 1856 | Synonym |
| Muraena ruppelli | McClelland | 1844 | Synonym |
| Sidera chlevastes | Jordan & Gilbert | 1883 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 8 records indexed .
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