Starry moray (Echidna nebulosa)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Echidna nebulosa · Authority: (Ahl, 1789) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 217469.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Echidna variegata Forster, 1848; Gymnothorax boschi (Bleeker, 1853); Gymnothorax boschii (Bleeker, 1853); Lycodontis boschi (Bleeker, 1853); Muraena boschii Bleeker, 1852; Muraena nebulosa Ahl, 1789; Muraena ophis Rüppell, 1830; Poecilophis nebulosa (Ahl, 1789).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217469 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 100 cm · Common length: 50 cm · Depth range: 0–48 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 60 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Found between rocks and corals of intertidal reef flats, also in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs to depths of at least 10 m (Ref. 9710, 58302). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Nocturnal (Ref. 68964). Feed mainly on crustaceans. Protogynous hermaphroditism unconfirmed for this species (Ref. 84746).

Safely kept with small aquarium fishes (Ref. 9710). Solitary, seen usually in the open or with only head exposed (Ref 90102). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5388) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Echidna-nebulosa.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

3,870 georeferenced occurrence records for Echidna nebulosa are published through GBIF from 65 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 349 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 54 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 (663); Indonesia (442); Philippines (414); Australia (358); Chinese Taipei (170).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5213106) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5213106&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217469 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Echidna nebulosa Ahl, 1789 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 195683) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/195683/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5213106) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5213106/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Its Hawaiian name is puhi-kapa, which originates from King Kamehameha I's nickname. The genus name is derived from the Greek word echidna meaning "viper", and the species name, nebulosa, originates from the Latin word meaning "misty" or "cloudy".

Distribution

It is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific area from the eastern coast of Africa throughout Micronesia including the Red Sea and to Hawaii. The species is also found in the eastern Central Pacific from southern Baja California, Mexico, and from Costa Rica to northern Colombia.

Habitat

This species reaches a length of 100 cm but its common size is 50 cm. They live at depths ranging from 1 and 48 meters.

Description and biology

The snowflake moray has a blunt white snout that goes into a yellowish, brown, and black striped speckled pattern. They have a dorsal fin that runs the length of its body. Protruding out of their snout, they have two yellow tubular nostrils angled down and another pair closer to their eyes.

Moray eels' eyesight is poor, and their heightened sense of smell compensates for this. They have small blunt teeth rather than sharp teeth. Their diet consists mainly of crustaceans.

The snowflake moray, along with other species of morays, have pharyngeal jaws, which are a second set of jaws located in the throat or pharynx. This species is an unconfirmed protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that they are able to change sex during their lifetime. Snowflake morays are also scale-less, secreting a mucus over their skin that allows for easy maneuverability in and around holes in their environment.

This species reaches a length of 100 centimeters (39 in) but is commonly found at a length of 50 centimeters (20 in).

This species is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific area from the eastern coast of Africa throughout Micronesia including the Red Sea and to Hawaii. It is also found in the eastern Central Pacific from southern Baja California, Mexico, and from Costa Rica to northern Colombia.

The snowflake moray is often found residing in seagrass beds with rock rubble, rocky shallows, intertidal reef flats, and tide pools. They live at depths ranging from 1 and 48 meters.

In the aquarium

The snowflake moray is a very commonly kept saltwater eel. They are very hardy and well-suited to life within an aquarium. Up to 36" in length in captivity, the snowflake moray requires an aquarium that is larger than 20 gallons (40–50 gallons when full grown) with a tight-fitting lid, as these eels (and all other eels) are good at escaping and can fit through surprisingly small holes in aquarium lids. The snowflake eel has been known to live to 15 years and older in captivity.

They are carnivores, readily accepting just about any meaty foods, including krill, shrimp, silversides and octopus meat. Unless already acclimated to frozen foods, the moray eel will likely need to be fed with live ghost shrimp when first acquired. Weaning can be accomplished over time. The feeding of freshwater feeder fish (goldfish, rosy reds, etc.) will likely cause liver disease if fed to the eel, so such feeding should be avoided.

It is not safe for shrimp, crabs or lobsters to be kept with the snowflake moray, as crustaceans are their natural diet. Most other invertebrates, including starfish, anemones and sea urchins, can safely be kept with them. Snowflake morays are reef safe and will not bother corals, though these eels are messy eaters and will require strong filtration and a relatively large protein skimmer for the long-term health of any corals housed in their aquarium.

The moray eel will likely consume very small fish such as damselfish. Compatible tankmates for the snowflake moray eel include other relatively large, aggressive fish, such as lionfish, tangs, triggerfish, wrasses, and possibly even other snowflake moray eels if they are both introduced to the tank at the same time. Snowflake moray eels can inflict a severe bite.

Source: Wikipedia: Snowflake moray — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_moray (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.