Goldentail moray (Gymnothorax miliaris)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Anguilliformes · Family: Muraenidae · Genus: Gymnothorax.

Accepted name: Gymnothorax miliaris · Authority: (Kaup, 1856) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 271852.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Gymnothorax elaboratus (Poey, 1860); Gymnothorax flavopictus (Kaup, 1856); Gymnothorax irregularis (Kaup, 1856); Gymnothorax scriptus Poey, 1867; Lycodontis elaboratus (Poey, 1860); Lycodontis flavopictus (Kaup, 1856); Lycodontis irregularis (Kaup, 1856); Lycodontis miliaris (Kaup, 1856); Muraena aurea Mowbray, 1931; Muraena elaborata Poey, 1860; Muraena flavopicta (Kaup, 1856); Muraena irregularis (Kaup, 1856); Muraena miliaris (Kaup, 1856); Muraena milliaris (Kaup, 1856); Muraena multiocellata Poey, 1860; Muraena myrialeucostictus Fowler, 1912; Muraena trinitatis Miranda Ribeiro, 1919; Murenophis miliaris (Kaup, 1856); Sidera elaborata (Poey, 1860); Sidera miliaris (Kaup, 1856); Thrysoidea miliaris Kaup, 1856; Thyrsoidea flavopicta Kaup, 1856; Thyrsoidea irregularis Kaup, 1856.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=271852 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Gymnothorax miliaris. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 70 cm · Common length: 40 cm · Depth range: 0–60 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 48 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: A benthic and solitary species (Ref. 26340) inhabiting coral reefs and rocky shorelines. Usually at depths of 60 m (Ref. 26938). One of the most common and easily recognized morays of the West Indian reefs, active during the day and sometimes hunting together with other predators (Ref. 42064). This species has been called Muraena miliaris (Ref. 26938).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 1103) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Gymnothorax-miliaris.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

21,746 georeferenced occurrence records for Gymnothorax miliaris are published through GBIF from 48 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 111 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 17 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (18,147); Puerto Rico (2,115); Brazil (284); Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (229); Mexico (132).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2403816) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2403816&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=271852 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Gymnothorax miliaris (Kaup, 1856) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 195756) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/195756/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2403816) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2403816/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The goldentail moray is a medium-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 70 cm, but the ones usually observed are rather average 40 cm in length.

Its serpentine in shape body has a brown light or dark background color dotted with small yellow spots. These later are smaller on the head and larger at the tail.

The snout and the tail are yellowish.

The inside of their mouth is white.

A color morph of the eel, frequently called the "Banana Eel", is mostly yellow with large spots instead of many small spots.

The goldentail moray is widespread throughout the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, so it is present from Florida, Bermudas until southeast Brazil.

Its presence was also reported in the islands from the center of the Atlantic Ocean like Saint Helena and Ascension but also close to the African coast in the Cape Verde Islands.

It typically lives on rocky and coral reef slopes between the surface and 35 meters (115.5 feet) in depth with a maximum reported at 60 meters (198 feet).

The goldentail moray is a solitary carnivorous fish, it leaves its lair at night to actively hunt its prey along the reef but it has also been observed hunting during daytime.

It feeds mainly on small invertebrates like crustaceans and mollusks, rarely on small fishes.

Source: Wikipedia: Gymnothorax miliaris — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnothorax_miliaris (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.