Honeycomb Moray Eel

Description:

The laced moray (Gymnothorax favagineus) also known as the leopard moray, tesselate moray or honeycomb moray, is a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae. Gymnothorax favagineus is a large moray which can reach a maximum length of 300 cm, but specimens usually encountered are much smaller. Its serpentine in shape body has a white to yellowish background color dotted with numerous black spots which latter vary in size and shape depending on the individual and on the environment in which the animals live. Therefore, morays living on a reef with clear water will have less black spots than those of a turbid environment. It is from this characteristic color pattern that ensue its vernacular names.

Habitat:

The laced moray is widespread trough out the Indo-West Pacific area from eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, until Papua New Guinea and from south Japan to the Great Barrier Reef. It lives on the outer slopes of coral reefs, the day it sits sheltered in crevices between 1 and 45 meters deep