Gymnothorax miliaris
A medium-sized moray with yellow spots and a yellowish tail.
Gymnothorax miliaris, also called the goldentail moray, bastard eel, or conger moray, belongs to the Muraenidae family. This medium-sized fish reaches a maximum length of 70 cm, though most observed individuals are around 40 cm. Its serpentine body has a light or dark brown background covered in small yellow spots; these spots are smaller on the head and larger toward the tail. The snout and tail are yellowish, and the inside of the mouth is white. A color variant, often called the "Banana Eel," is mostly yellow with large spots instead of many small ones.
The goldentail moray is widespread across the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, ranging from Florida and Bermuda down to southeastern Brazil. It has also been reported in central Atlantic islands such as Saint Helena and Ascension, as well as near the African coast in the Cape Verde Islands. It typically inhabits rocky and coral reef slopes from the surface down to 35 meters (115.5 feet), with a maximum recorded depth of 60 meters (198 feet).
This solitary carnivore leaves its lair at night to actively hunt along the reef, though it has also been observed hunting during the day. Its diet consists mainly of small invertebrates like crustaceans and mollusks, and it rarely eats small fish.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Gymnothorax miliaris
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The goldentail moray has a serpentine body with a brown background color (light or dark) dotted with small yellow spots. These spots are smaller on the head and larger toward the tail. The snout and tail are yellowish, and the inside of the mouth is white. A color morph, frequently called the 'Banana Eel,' is mostly yellow with large spots instead of many small spots. It typically lives on rocky and coral reef slopes between the surface and 35 meters in depth, with a maximum reported depth of 60 meters.
Reader's Guide
The goldentail moray is a solitary carnivorous fish that leaves its lair at night to actively hunt prey along the reef, though it has also been observed hunting during daytime. Its diet consists mainly of small invertebrates like crustaceans and mollusks, and rarely small fishes. The species is widespread throughout the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, ranging from Florida and Bermuda to southeast Brazil. Its presence has also been reported in central Atlantic islands such as Saint Helena and Ascension, as well as near the African coast in the Cape Verde Islands. The goldentail moray reaches a maximum length of 70 cm, though individuals observed are usually around 40 cm. Its distinctive coloration and the existence of the 'Banana Eel' color morph make it a recognizable species within its range.
Did You Know?
- The goldentail moray can reach a maximum length of 70 cm, but observed individuals are usually about 40 cm.
- It is found from Florida and Bermuda to southeast Brazil, and also at Saint Helena, Ascension, and the Cape Verde Islands.
- The inside of its mouth is white.
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