Zebra moray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zebra moray
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Anguilliformes
Family:	Muraenidae
Subfamily:	Muraeninae
Genus:	Gymnomuraena Lacépède, 1803
Species:	G. zebra
Binomial name
Gymnomuraena zebra (G. Shaw, 1797)
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Synonyms
Echidna zebra

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The zebra moray (scientific name: Gymnomuraena zebra) is a cool type of marine fish. It belongs to the moray eel family, called Muraenidae. This special fish is the only one in its group, known as the Gymnomuraena genus.

What Does the Zebra Moray Look Like?

The zebra moray is a medium-sized fish. It can grow up to 150 centimeters (about 5 feet) long! But most of the time, they are around 50 centimeters (about 1.6 feet).

This moray eel gets its name from its stripes. It has many dark and whitish bands all over its body, just like a zebra. Its nose, called a snout, is short and round.

Where Do Zebra Morays Live?

The zebra moray lives in a very large area called the Indo-Pacific. This stretches from the eastern coast of Africa all the way to the western coast of the Americas. You can find them in places like the Red Sea, Hawaii, and the Galápagos Islands.

Zebra Moray Habitat

This fish lives on the bottom of the ocean, which is called being benthic. It loves rocky areas or coral reefs near the coast. You can usually find them in shallow waters, up to 40 meters (about 130 feet) deep.

What Do Zebra Morays Eat?

Gymnomuraena zebra is active at night. It hunts for its food when it's dark. Unlike many other moray eels, the zebra moray has a special diet. It only eats crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp), sea urchins, and mollusks (like snails and clams).

See also

In Spanish: Morena Cebra para niños