Brown speckled eel
A Hawaiian endemic moray eel found in coral reefs.
The brown speckled eel, known scientifically as *Gymnothorax steindachneri* and called *puhi* in Hawaiian, is a moray eel that lives in coral reefs of the eastern central Pacific, specifically around Hawaii. David Starr Jordan and Barton Warren Evermann gave the species its scientific description in 1903. This eel is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning it is found nowhere else. It is uncommon in the shallow reefs near the main Hawaiian Islands, but it appears regularly in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, with its range extending only as far south as Oʻahu.
The eel has a head that is almost cone-shaped, with straight jaws. Its body is cream-colored, marked with brown spots and lines on the throat. Dark spots appear near the gills, and the fins are edged in white. It can reach a length of up to 3 feet (0.91 meters).
This species lives only in Hawaii, from Oʻahu up through the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It typically inhabits shallow reefs at depths between 15 and 100 feet (4.6–30.5 meters).
During the day, Steindachner's moray eels mostly stay hidden under rocks or inside caves. At night, they emerge to hunt. They are predators that feed on small fish and small invertebrates like shrimp and crabs.
Moray eels, including this one, play a role in ocean life. As predators, they are part of the food web and help keep it balanced, which supports a healthy ecosystem. The presence of Steindachner's moray eel is a sign that a reef is healthy. Because this eel is endemic to Hawaii, protecting the species is important for preserving the unique marine diversity of the islands.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Gymnothorax
- Species
- steindachneri
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Steindachner's moray eel has almost a cone-shaped head with straight jaws. It has a cream color with brown spots and lines on the throat. Near their gills, it has dark spots and its fins are outlined in white. It can grow up to 3 ft (0.91 m). This species is endemic to Hawaii and can be found around O'ahu up to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, often in shallow reefs with depths up to 15–100 ft (4.6–30.5 m). Steindachner's moray eels mostly hide under rocks or caves during the day but at night come out to hunt for food. They are predatory fish that hunt and eat small fishes and small invertebrates such as shrimps and crabs.
Reader's Guide
Moray eels including the Steindachner's moray eels all play a role in oceanic life. Due to morays being predatory fishes, they are part of the food web, which means that they also help maintain the food web too. This helps keep the ecosystem healthy and balanced. Moray eels such as Steindachner's Moray Eel are health indicators to the reefs, meaning that a reef is healthy if the eels are also part of it. Because these eels are endemic to Hawaii, it is important to keep this species alive and thriving for Hawaii’s unique marine diversity. The species is rare in shallow reefs around the main Hawaiian Islands but commonly found in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, ranging only as far as south of Oʻahu.
Did You Know?
- The brown speckled eel is also called puhi in Hawaiian.
- It was scientifically described by David Starr Jordan and Barton Warren Evermann in 1903.
- This species is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is rare in shallow reefs around the main Hawaiian Islands.
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