Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Muraeninae
Etymology: Enchelycore: Greek, enchelys, = eel + Greek, kore = pupil (Ref. 45335); nycturanus: From the Greek nyktos meaning night and ouranos meaning sky, in reference to the color pattern of this species which resembles a field of stars on a dark sky (Ref. 50539).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated. Subtropical
Western Indian Ocean: known only from the type locality, Aliwal Shoal, off the coast of South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 22.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 50539)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 147 - 148. Moderately elongate moray with color pattern of white spots on a dark brown background, spots becoming smaller and more closely spaced on head. Jaws arched, mouth not entirely closing. Intermaxillary teeth in five rows; maxillary teeth triserial; mandibular teeth biserial (Ref. 50539).
Maximum length based on largest immature specimen (Ref. 50539).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Smith, D.G., 2002. Enchelycore nycturanus, a new moray eel from South Africa (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Zootaxa 104:1-6. (Ref. 50539)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of potential interest
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00050 (0.00025 - 0.00101), b=3.26 (3.10 - 3.42), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.7 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (12 of 100).