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Gymnothorax phasmatodes (Smith, 1962) Ghost moray |
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photo by
Erdmann, M.V. |
| Family: | Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae | |||
| Max. size: | 46 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-West Pacific: Mozambique and Mauritius (Ref. 33390); Oman (Ref. 11441); Philippines south to Australia, east to Papua New Guinea (Ref 90102). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Vertebrae: 166-170. Pale yellow, lighter ventrally (Ref. 3257). Dorsal margin light blue (Ref. 3257). Description: Characterized by body depth at gill opening 30-33 in TL; long and slender body; origin of dorsal fin anterior to gill opening; anus at about middle of the body; compressed, acutely triangular and retorse teeth in single row in jaws; 2-3 intermaxillary canines in median row (Ref. 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Found in sand or rubble bottoms. Also in Shallow water, often in tidepools (Ref 90102). Nocturnal, feeds on small reef organisms (Ref. 68964). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2011 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||