Latin name

Gymnothorax johnsoni

Other name

Gymnothorax johnsoni

Identification

Gymnothorax: Greek, gymnos = naked + Greek, thorax, -akos = breast. It was first named Smith in 1962.

White-spotted morays have broad jaws framing a protruding snout. They secrete a protective mucus over their smooth, scaleless skin. The moray's throat jaws are located further back in the head and closely resemble mouth jaws (along with tiny "teeth"). 

Features of fish fins

The dorsal fin in these fish runs just behind the head along the back and merges seamlessly with the caudal and anal fins.

Fish colouring

The white-spotted moray is light brown with irregularly shaped bright spots on the front and larger and more rounded spots on the tail. The corners of the mouth and gill openings are dark.

Distribution

Widespread in the western Indian Ocean: Red Sea south to Algoa Bay, South Africa.

Habitat

A subtropical marine benthic species. Its depth range is from 20 to 400 meters. 

Size

The maximum length of this species is 130 cm.

Behavior

White-spotted moray eels live in crevices.

Food and feeding habits

Opportunistic, carnivorous predators. They ambush their prey. They use their pharyngeal jaws to actively capture and hold prey. They feed primarily on small fish, crabs, and octopuses.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs that are immediately abandoned and swim away to continue feeding. After the females, the males swim to the spawning site. They fertilize the eggs, but in a chaotic and random manner, so that a clutch may be fertilized by several males. After about five to six weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae that feed on tiny animals in the zooplankton.

Fishing

The species is of minor commercial interest.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.