Banded moray (Gymnothorax rueppelliae)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Gymnothorax rueppelliae, the banded moray, banded reef-eel, Rüppell's moray, Rüppell's moray eel, black barred eel, yellow-headed moray eel or yellow-headed moray, is a moray eel found in tropical coral reefs. Gymnothorax rueppelliae is a pale grey to greyish-brown moray with 16–21 dark bars on the body, a bright yellow head and a dark spot at the corner of the mouth. They differ from the Gymnothorax pikei, a close relative that lives Papua New Guinea. They have fewer vomerine teeth. They also reach a maximum length of 80 cm.
- Scientific name
- Gymnothorax rueppelliae
- Authority
- (McClelland, 1844)
- Family
- Muraenidae
- Order
- Anguilliformes
- Maximum length
- 80 cm
- Depth range
- 0–40 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 663
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Anguilliformes · Family: Muraenidae · Genus: Gymnothorax.
Accepted name: Gymnothorax rueppelliae · Authority: (McClelland, 1844) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 217477.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Dalophis rueppelliae McClelland, 1844; Gymnothorax leucacme Jenkins, 1903; Gymnothorax petelli (Bleeker, 1856); Gymnothorax ruepelliae (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax rüeppelliae (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax rueppellii (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax ruppeli (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax ruppelii (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax ruppelli (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax ruppelliae (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax ruppellii (McClelland, 1844); Gymnothorax signifer Bliss, 1883; Gymnothorax waialuae Snyder, 1904; Lycodontis petelli (Bleeker, 1856); Lycodontis rueppelli (McClelland, 1844); Lycodontis rueppelliae (McClelland, 1844); Lycodontis ruppelli (McClelland, 1845); Muraena interrupta Kaup, 1856; Muraena nigrolineata Kaup, 1856; Muraena petelli Bleeker, 1856; Muraena ruppelli (McClelland, 1844); Muraena umbrofasciata Rüppell, 1852; Sidera chlevastes Jordan & Gilbert, 1883.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217477 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Gymnothorax rueppelliae. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 80 cm · Depth range: 0–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 52 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: Found in clear waters of lagoons and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Adults feed on fishes and crustaceans, mainly at night. Nervous and aggressive (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942.
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5396) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Gymnothorax-rueppelliae.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
663 georeferenced occurrence records for Gymnothorax rueppelliae are published through GBIF from 49 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 194 distinct locations from a sample of 663 records, omitting 15 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 (182); French Polynesia (54); Seychelles (38); Marshall Islands (37); Indonesia (23); Philippines (23); Micronesia (Federated States of) (21); Maldives (20); Réunion (20); Chinese Taipei (20); New Caledonia (18); Egypt (15); Wallis and Futuna (14); Christmas Island (12); Palau (12).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Red Sea; Madagascar; Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; Somali Exclusive Economic Zone; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; Réunion Exclusive Economic Zone; Chagos.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2403768) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2403768&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217477 (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 rueppelliae (McClelland, 1844) 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 195857) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/195857/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2403768) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2403768/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Its scientific name honors German naturalist and explorer Eduard Rüppell. The Hawaiian name puhi 'apo, meaning "to catch or grasp," was designated by Mary Kawena Pukui in 1978.
This species has a pale grey to greyish-brown body with 16–21 dark bars and a bright yellow head with a dark spot at the corner of the mouth with vomerine teeth. The snout and front of the head are yellowish, while the body is marked by wide, encircling dark brown bands that fade as the eel ages. A distinguishing feature of G. rueppelliae is that its bands are regular and continuous around the body, extending onto the head as far as the snout.
Gymnothorax rueppelliae is distributed throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with populations found in lagoon and coral reefs, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, Tuamotu Archipelago, the Marquesas Islands, north of the Ryukyu Islands, and south of the Great Barrier Reef.
This species is nocturnal and primarily benthic, residing in clear waters of lagoons and seaward reefs at depths ranging from 1 to 40 m, with reports of individuals inhabiting reefs as deep as 30 m.
G. rueppelliae is known for its nervous and aggressive behavior, particularly when disturbed.
It is an active predator, mainly feeding on fish, crabs, and shrimp.
Like other moray eels, Gymnothorax rueppelliae follows an oviparous reproductive strategy, meaning it lays eggs with little or no embryonic development occurring within the mother. The reproductive behavior of G. rueppelliae is believed to be influenced by water temperature, lunar cycles, and seasonal changes, similar to other moray eels. However, further research is needed to understand specific spawning sites and behaviors of this species in the wild.
Source: Wikipedia: Gymnothorax rueppelliae — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnothorax_rueppelliae (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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