Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Muraeninae
Etymology: Enchelynassa: Greek, enchelys, = eel + Greek, nassa, nessa = island (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Quoy & Gaimard.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 58302), usually 2 - 10 m (Ref. 89972). Tropical; 25°N - 24°S
Indo-Pacific: Chagos Islands and Reunion (Ref. 53568), to Panama, north to Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to Tonga and Mangaréva.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 250 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30874)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 141 - 147. Each posterior nostril which is located in front of, and above the eye, is large and surrounded by a fleshy rim, and each anterior nostril bears a bilobed fleshy protuberance which is absent in species of Enchelycore.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Inhabits areas with strong surge such as benches, outer reef flats and reef fronts (Ref. 9710). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Very secretive during the day; feeds on fishes and octopi at night (Ref. 9710). May bite by accident or when provoked.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 2334)
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