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The snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa), also known as the clouded moray among many vernacular names, is a species of marine eel of the family Muraenidae. [3] It has blunt teeth ideal for its diet of crustaceans, a trait it shares with the zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra).
The Indian mud moray eel, (Gymnothorax tile) is a moray eel found in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. [2] It was first named by Hamilton in 1822, [ 2 ] and is also commonly known as the freshwater moray or freshwater snowflake eel .
Gymnothorax niphostigmus, the snowflake-patched moray, [2] is a moray eel found in the northwest Pacific Ocean around Taiwan. [3] It was first named by Chen, Shao, and Chen in 1996. [ 3 ]
With more than 120 species, it the most speciose genus of moray eels. Smith (2012) notes that Gymnothorax as currently recognized is polyphyletic, but cautioned that comparative studies are needed before action is taken to resurrect generic synonyms of Gymnothorax .
The moray eel's elongation is due to an increase in the number of vertebrae, rather than a lengthening of each individual vertebra or a substantial decrease in body depth. [29] Vertebrae have been added asynchronously between the pre-tail ("precaudal") and tail ("caudal") regions, unlike other groups of eels such as Ophicthids and Congrids. [30]
This moray eel was recently identified as a natural predator of the lionfish Pterois miles in its native habitat in the Red Sea. [5] The shrimp-like crustacean Stenopus pyrsonotus, has often been found in close proximity with a yellow-edged moray eel, leading to the possibility that the shrimp may enter into a cleaning symbiosis with the eel. [6]
It is rare to see moray eels making unprovoked attacks on humans. However, it is true that the baleful looks of moray eels frighten snorkelers and divers underwater. Humans are afraid of moray eels due to their appearance. When moray eels carry out a normal respiratory movement, focus is drawn to their protruding large jaws and dentition.
Uropterygius macrocephalus is a moray eel found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. [2] It is commonly known as the needle-tooth moray, large-headed snake moray, largehead snake moray, largehead moray, longhead moray, or the snowflake eel. [3] It is used sometimes in aquariums. [2]