Barred-fin moray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barred-fin moray |
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| at Bunaken, North Sulawesi | |
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Gymnothorax
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G. zonipectis
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| Gymnothorax zonipectis Seale, 1906
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The barred-fin moray or bar-tail moray (Gymnothorax zonipectis) is a type of fish that lives in the ocean. It belongs to the moray eel family, which means it's a relative of other eels you might have heard about!
What Does It Look Like?
The barred-fin moray is a medium-sized fish. It can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long, but most of the ones people see are around 30 centimeters (about 12 inches).
This eel has a long, snake-like body. Its skin is light brown and covered with darker spots. It also has broken, wavy dark brown lines. Look closely, and you might spot a whitish mark right under the back corner of its eye!
Where Does It Live?
You can find the barred-fin moray in many parts of the Indo-Pacific ocean. This huge area stretches from the eastern coast of Africa all the way to Polynesia and Hawaii. It also lives from Taiwan down to New Caledonia.
This moray eel likes to live in shallow waters. It prefers lagoons and the outer parts of coral reefs. You can find it in places with lots of sand and bits of broken coral, usually up to 40 meters (about 132 feet) deep.
What Does It Do?
The barred-fin moray is a carnivore, which means it eats other animals. It's a bit of a loner and likes to keep to itself. It's also very secretive!
During the day, this eel usually hides in a safe spot, like a crevice in the rocks or a hole in the sand. It's often hard to see! But when night comes, it becomes active. It leaves its hiding place to hunt for small fish to eat.
See also
In Spanish: Gymnothorax zonipectis para niños
