California moray

Taxobox
name = California moray


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Anguilliformes
familia = Muraenidae
genus = "Gymnothorax"
species = "G. mordax"
binomial = "Gymnothorax mordax"
binomial_authority = (Ayres, 1859)

The California moray, "Gymnothorax mordax", is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the eastern Pacific from Point Conception in California to southern Baja California in Mexico, and also from the Galapagos Islands, at depths down to 40 m. Its length is up to 152 cm.

The California moray is commonly found among rocks, in crevices or holes, usually with only its head protruding. It is very common in shallow reef areas, feeding mostly at night on crustaceans, octopuses and small fishes. Long-lived, it is a pelagic spawner.

References

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