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