Leopard Moray Eel

Description: Characterized by brown to brownish orange with narrow irregular dark brown bars on body, numerous dark-edged white spots, small black spots on head and body; body depth at gill opening 10-16 in TL; dorsal fin anterior to gill opening; anus anterior to middle of body; combined head and trunk (preanal length) 2.1-2.3 in TL; slender and hooked jaws; visible long canine teeth in gap between jaws when mouth closed and viewed laterally; two rows of jaw teeth; small and sharp outer row teeth, close to canines of inner row; median row at front of upper jaw with three elongate canines; elongate and tubular anterior nostril; posterior nostril a very long tube above front of eye (Ref. 90102).

Vertebrae: 119 - 126

Inhabits coral and rocky reefs. Common in warm-temperate waters. Feeds on fishes (Ref. 2763). Also in Ref. 9137. In terms of feeding behavior, strikes were aimed small prey on their mid-ventral surface area; on large prey, strikes are concentrated at mid-ventral surace, head, tail and mi-dorsal fin. Number of strikes to capture and the time to locate and capture prey differed significantly between small and large prey. Prey manipulation and feeding on smal prey involve orientation, 'M' (i.e., the eel moves in a general forward and/or reverse direction, possibly forming an "M" configuration), shaking and feeding; while feeding on large prey involve orientation, 'M,' knotting 1, releasing and feeding (Ref. 118229).

Inhabits coral and rocky reefs. Common in warm-temperate waters (Ref. 9710). Benthic at 1-35 m (Ref. 58302). Feeds on fishes (Ref. 9710).

aquarium: commercial

分布於印度-太平洋區，西起法屬留尼旺，東至夏威夷、萊恩及社會群島，北至日本，南至新加勒多尼亞。臺灣分布於東北部、東部、南部、小琉球及澎湖等海域。

本種外形奇特漂亮，適合當觀賞魚用。在少數生猛海鮮店中曾被發現。

體延長而呈圓柱狀，尾部側扁。吻部尖長。前鼻管細而長；後鼻管質地較柔軟、豎立，較前鼻管更大更長，有些個體的後鼻管上甚至出現分叉。上、下頜向口內側彎曲，許多大的尖牙外露。脊椎骨數124-129。鮮活時，魚體為朱褐色，周身遍布許多白色且具褐邊的圓斑，魚體腹側的斑點相連成較大且不規則的白色斑紋；體側另有許多深、淺褐色交錯的斑紋；眼睛的外膜略呈藍色。

主要棲息於沿岸礁岩洞穴或珊瑚礁裂縫中。性情凶猛，好食魚類，偶食甲殼類。潛水遭遇時經常張開大嘴威嚇入侵者。

The leopard moray eel, tiger moray eel or dragon moray (Enchelycore pardalis), is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae.

The leopard moray eel is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific oceans from Réunion to the Hawaiian, Line and Society Islands, north to southern Japan, southern Korea, and south to New Caledonia.

It inhabits coral and rocky reefs at depth range from 8 to 60 m.

Its length is up to 92 cm.

This eel is characterized by its narrow, curved jaws, vivid red stripes on the head, and elongated tubular nostrils.

Close-up of leopard moray.

It is chiefly nocturnal; because of this and its preference for cryptic habitats, it is seldom seen. It feeds primarily on fishes and small cephalopods.