Mosaic moray

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Mosaic moray
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Enchelycore
Species: E. ramosa
Binomial name
Enchelycore ramosa
(Griffin, 1926)

The mosaic moray, Enchelycore ramosa, is a moray eel of the genus Enchelycore, found in south east Australia and around the offshore islands off Northland on the North Island of New Zealand at depths down to 100 metres, in reef areas of broken rock. Their length is between 40 and 180 centimetres.

The mosaic moray is the most spectacular moray in New Zealand waters. It is a very elongate scaleless fish with a large body tapering to long curved jaws which prevent the mouth from being fully closed. The mouth is full of extremely large closely spaced teeth that are almost transparent making them practically invisible when viewed from the front. The body colour is whitish with a mosaic patterning of olive green or brown that is darker on the head and fades towards the tail. This pattern is continued inside the mouth and throat and this, combined with the transparent teeth, makes it difficult to tell whether the mouth is open or closed.

The mosaic moray lives in rocky reef areas around offshore islands, spending most of its time with its head emerging from its cave or crevice, mouth agape. The open-mouthed stance is not aggression - morays need to continuously draw water through their small gills, and in fact this is not an aggressive fish. They are active mostly at night but move about during the day if the smell of food entices them. Their diet is made up of crabs, sea urchins, and small fish.

When hooked morays fight energetically even tying themselves in knots and it is often impossible to remove the hook.

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