Spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
The spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa) is a medium to large moray eel. Other common names include conger, spotted eel, red moray, speckled moray, white cong, white jawed moray, white-chinned moray and white-jawed moray eel. Spotted eels have a long snake-like body, white or pale yellow in general with small overlapping reddish brown to dark-brown spots. They are commonly 60 cm in length and can grow up to 2 m, weighing 2.51 kg. They inhabit the Western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. They are also found around the Mid- and Eastern Atlantic islands as far south as St Helena. They are typically found anywhere from the surface to a depth of 200 m.
- Scientific name
- Gymnothorax moringa
- Authority
- (Cuvier, 1829)
- Family
- Muraenidae
- Order
- Anguilliformes
- Maximum length
- 200 cm
- Depth range
- 0–200 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 26,846
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Anguilliformes · Family: Muraenidae · Genus: Gymnothorax.
Accepted name: Gymnothorax moringa · Authority: (Cuvier, 1829) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 158584.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Gymnothorax albimentis (Evermann & Marsh, 1900); Gymnothorax concolor (Abbott, 1860); Gymnothorax flavoscriptus Poey, 1876; Gymnothorax moringua (Cuvier, 1829); Gymnothorax picturatus Poey, 1880; Gymnothorax rostratus Agassiz, 1831; Lycodontis albimentis Evermann & Marsh, 1900; Lycodontis moringa (Cuvier, 1829); Muraena moringa Cuvier, 1829; Muraena punctata Gronow, 1854; Murenophis caramuru Castelnau, 1855; Murenophis curvilineata Castelnau, 1855; Sidera flavoscripta (Poey, 1876); Sidera moringa (Cuvier, 1829); Thyrsoidea concolor Abbott, 1860.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=158584 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Gymnothorax moringa. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 200 cm · Common length: 60 cm · Depth range: 0–200 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 90 of 100 · Fishery importance: minor commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: A benthic and solitary species (Ref. 26340) abundant in shallow rocky and grassy areas and on coral reefs; less common in turbid bays or harbors. Its bite is very dangerous (Ref. 5217). Active during the day, sometimes together with other predators. Feeds on fish and crustaceans (Ref. 42064). Usually seen with its head protruding from a hole and the rest of its body concealed (Ref. 26938). Observed to be unusually aggressive towards man (Ref. 86997). It has been traded as aquarium fish at Ceará, Brazil (Ref. 49392). Marketed fresh and salted (Ref. 5217).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7547) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Gymnothorax-moringa.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
26,846 georeferenced occurrence records for Gymnothorax moringa are published through GBIF from 53 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 131 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 28 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 (18,992); Puerto Rico (4,527); Brazil (473); Guadeloupe (433); Mexico (343).
The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2404065) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2404065&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=158584 (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 moringa (Cuvier, 1829) 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 195762) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/195762/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2404065) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2404065/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Spotted morays are solitary animals, and usually hide in narrow crevices and holes in reef structures with only their heads peeking out. They are active during the day, feeding on crustaceans, molluscs and fish at or near the sea bottom. Their bite can be dangerous to humans due to damage caused by the pull-back effect of the bite itself, and potential toxins that may be released into the wound. There is a minor fishery for spotted eels, and they are also kept in aquariums until their size makes it impractical to do so.
Source: Wikipedia: Spotted moray — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_moray (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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