Leopard moray eel
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The leopard moray eel (Enchelycore pardalis), also known as the tiger moray eel, dragon moray or puhi-kauila in Hawaiian, is a species of moray eel of the family Muraenidae.
Distribution and habitat
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. The Leopard Moray eel inhabits coral and rocky reefs from shallow coastal waters to deeper reef slopes between 5 and 60 m in depth. It typically shelters in reef crevices during the day and hunts for prey at night.
Description
It grows up to 92 cm (36 in) in length and is characterized by its narrow, curved jaws, vivid red stripes on the head, and elongated tubular nostrils. It is primarily nocturnal and has a preference for cryptic habitats feeding primarily on fishes and small cephalopods.
External links
Wang, F. Y.; Fu, W.; Yan, H. Y. (2011). "Visual adaptations in four species of moray eels (Muraenidae): correlations with ecology and behaviour". Vision Research. 51 (10): 1179–1185. doi:.
Barley, S. C.; Meekan, M. G. (2016). "To knot or not? Novel feeding behaviours in moray eels". Coral Reefs. 35 (3): 977–981. doi:.
(PDF) (Report). Division of Forestry & Wildlife, State of Hawaiʻi. 2015.