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Species of fish From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The undulated moray (Gymnothorax undulatus) is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the Indo-Pacific and east-central Pacific Ocean at depths down to 30 m. Their length is up to 1.5 m.
| Undulated moray | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Anguilliformes |
| Family: | Muraenidae |
| Genus: | Gymnothorax |
| Species: | G. undulatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnothorax undulatus (Lacépède, 1803) | |
The undulated moray can easily be identified by its yellow head and brown spots covering its body. It is also lined by white borders forming similar to a chain link. [2] They use their large mouths to pump water to the gills, while the gill cover is a small hole to protect the delicate gills. Like most eels, they lack the pectoral and pelvic fins to make it easier for them to move through the crevices of reefs.[2] Their other fins are fitted with thicker skin to protect from sharp reef.[2] They move in a S-shape to be able to move back and forth to also aid in movement through reefs.[3] Their teeth are shaped to be curved backwards so they can hold onto their prey and easily move the prey backwards for digestion.[3]
Gymnothorax undulatus can be found in the Pacific as well as East Africa.[2] Most of the time they can be found in reefs of lagoons and seawards or in reef-flats. [4] They like to shelter within reefs and can be found from depths of 1 to 50 meters. The undulated moray is nocturnal as they hide in reefs during the day and hunt for food at night.[3]
The undulated eel and several other species of eels (puhi) are featured in many Hawaiian stories as common ʻaumakua, thought to be ancestors protecting families.[5] This eel is known as laumilo or "milo leaf" from the way it swims similar to blown leaves of the milo tree, it itself is considered a guardian for the tree according to the Kumulipo.[6][7] This eel was also a common form that Kū, the Hawaiian god of war, would take to interact with humans.[5]
For many native Hawaiian communities eels were an important food source and used for special dishes when leaders had special guests,[5] this particular eel is deemed "highly relished".[8]
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