top of page

Ray-finned Fishes of Zihuatanejo

CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Ray-finned Fishes (Class Actinopterygii)

-Tarpons, Eels, and Allies (Superorder Elopomorpha)

-True Eels (Order Anguilliformes)

-Morays (Family Muraenidae)

-Typical Morays (Subfamily Muraeninae)

-Echidna Morays (Genus Echidna)

-Palenose Moray (Echidna nocturna)


The Palenose Moray (Echidna nocturna), also known as the Freckled Moray or Night Moray, is a small, secretive eel found in the tropical and subtropical eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Peru and the Galápagos Islands. It is recognized by its pale snout and dark brown body densely covered with small white or yellowish spots, giving it a freckled appearance. Typically growing to about 60 centimeters in length, this moray prefers rocky reefs and crevices in shallow coastal waters, where it hides during the day and emerges at night to feed on crustaceans, particularly crabs and shrimp. Despite its sharp teeth and somewhat menacing look, the Palenose Moray is generally shy and non-aggressive, playing an important role in maintaining balance in reef ecosystems.

Diet

  • Echidna nocturna is a nocturnal carnivore that feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates, particularly crabs, lobsters, molluscs and other soft-bodied invertebrates. Small fishes and cephalopods may also be taken.

Range

  • The Palenose Moray is endemic to the tropical eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California southward to northern Peru,.

    It occurs in the Zihuatanejo area, including Zihuatanejo Bay.

Habitat

  • It is a demersal moray found among rocks, rubble and reef structure, including shallow littoral pools. It generally occurs from about 1–30 m depth.

  • It is usually secretive, spending much of the day concealed in crevices or beneath rocks and becoming more active at night.

Description

  • The Palenose Moray has a stout, elongated, snake-like body that tapers gradually towards the tail and can reach about 75 cm in length.

  • It is dark brown to almost black, with scattered white to yellowish spots, particularly over the front half of the body. The short, broad snout has distinctive orange tubular front nostrils.

  • Unlike morays with prominent canine teeth, its jaw teeth are blunt and become increasingly molar-like with age. The dorsal and anal fins are covered by skin and merge around the blunt-tipped tail.

Palenose Moray

Echidna nocturna

bottom of page