Fimbriated moray
Gymnothorax fimbriatus
Whitemouth Moray
Gymnothorax meleagris
About
The whitemouth moray, also called the turkey moray or guineafowl moray, is a snake-like eel found across the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Polynesia, Hawaii, and New Caledonia.
Also known as: turkey moray
How to tell it apart
Look for a dark, snake-like eel speckled all over with small white spots. If it opens its mouth, the inside is strikingly white — a clear giveaway for this species.
Appearance
Its long, serpentine body is dark brown to black, covered evenly in small white spots. As its name suggests, the inside of its mouth is completely white.
Habitat
This moray favours shallow water in lagoons and reefs rich in coral and fish life. It spends much of its time tucked inside holes in the reef, using its sense of smell to detect passing prey before darting out to grab it.
Did you know?
This moray is uncommon through most of its range, but in Hawaii it turns up far more often, making it one of the more easily spotted morays there.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
