Viper moray
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| iViper moray | ||||||||||||||
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| Enchelynassa formosa (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) |
The viper moray, Enchelynassa formosa, is a species of saltwater eels, the only member of the genus Enchelynassa of the Muraenidae (Moray eel) family. It is found in the Indo-Pacific oceans from Chagos Islands and Reunion, north to the Marcus and Hawaiian Islands, and south to Tonga and Mangaréva. Its length is up to 250 cm
The viper moray's posterior nostrils (located in front of, and above the eye), are large and surrounded by a fleshy rim, and each anterior nostril bears a bi-lobed fleshy protuberance which is absent in species of Enchelycore. It inhabits areas with strong surge such as benches, outer reef flats and reef fronts. It is very secretive during the day, feeding on fishes and octopi at night. It may bite by accident or when provoked.
[edit] References
- "Enchelynassa formosa". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
