Blackcheek moray eel explained

The blackcheek moray eel or masked moray (Gymnothorax breedeni) is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

Distribution

The blackcheek moray eel is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from eastern coast of Africa until oceanic islands from the Pacific Ocean like Polynesia but not Hawaii.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} It is a very common moray on the Maldives reefs.

Habitat

This moray eel occurs in clear seaward reefs of oceanic islands, especially in porous coral rock and in reef walls and steep slopes with holes.^[4] It likes reefs composed of rubble and debris of dead coral in which it finds its shelter, often on the outer slopes between 4 and 40 meters deep.^[2]

Description

The blackcheek moray eel is a medium-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 100 cm,^[4] but usually morays observed are often smaller.^[5] The background body color is brown speckled in a relatively high density with darker spots. This moray is easily identifiable by the large irregular black patch mark (hence the common name of blackcheek moray eel) starting from the eye and finishing in the corner of the mouth. Otherwise, its anal orifice and its gills aperture are black.^{[4] [6] [7]}

Biology

The blackcheek moray is rather solitary and very territorial, it is likely to bite any foreign body entering its vigilance area.^[2]

It also lives in association with cleaner shrimps and the Anthias.^{[8] [4]} It feeds on fish and octopuses at night, when it comes out of its lair.^{[1] [4]}

Bibliography

• Anderson, M.E. y V.V. Fedorov, 2004. Family Zoarcidae (Swainson, 1839. Eelpouts. Calif. Acad. Sci. Annotated Checklists of Fishes (34):58.
• Castle, P.H.J. and J.E. McCosker (1986) Muraenidae., p. 165-176. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
• Eschmeyer, William N., ed. 1998. Catalog of Fishes. Special Publication of the Center for Biodiversity Research and Information, núm. 1, vol. 1-3. California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco, California, USA. .
• Eschmeyer, William N.: Genera of Recent Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco, California, USA. iii + 697. . 1990.
• Helfman, G., B. Collette y D. Facey: The diversity of fishes. Blackwell Science, Malden, Massachusetts, USA, 1997.
• Moyle, P. y J. Cech.: Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, 4a. edición, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA Unidos: Prentice-Hall. 2000.
• Nelson, J.S. 2006: Fishes of the world. 4º edición. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. 601 p.
• Wheeler, A.: The World Encyclopedia of Fishes, 2nd. Ed. London: Macdonald. 1985.

External links

• Fishes of Australia
• ITIS Report
• Gymnothorax breedeni, Black cheek moray, blackcheek moray, Masked moray, photos, facts and physical characteristics

Notes and References

1. http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=1741 DORIS - Données d'Observations pour la Reconnaissance et l'Identification de la faune et la flore Subaquatiques
2. Kuiter, R.H. 1998 Photo guide to fishes of the Maldives. Atoll Editions, Victoria, Australia. 257 p.
3. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217480 WoRMS
4. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/7881 Fishbase
5. Allen, G.R. and R.C. Steene, 1988. Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island Natural History Association, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, 6798, Australia. 197 p.
6. Margaret M. Smith,Phillip C. Heemstra Smiths’ Sea Fishes
7. Rudie H. Kuiter,Timothy Godfrey Fishes of the Maldives – Indian Ocean: Applicable to Central and Western Indian Ocean
8. Myers, R.F., 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 p.