Gymnothorax polygonius

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Muraenidae	Gymnothorax polygonius	Poey	1875	Polygon Moray

All Gymnothorax Species: Dorsal fin beginning above and near to dorsal-fin origin, well-before anus (usually on head). Anal fin beginning just behind anus. No molariform teeth, some canine teeth present. Jaws not arched, closing completely or with slight gap. Teeth not exposed when mouth is closed. Posterior nostril flush or nearly so with head profile. Gill opening with body coloration.

Gymnothorax polygonius

Unique Characters: Teeth not numerous, some long canines; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout and jaws elongate. Teeth slender and smooth, some as very long canines. Color pattern of large pale polygons overlain with small dark spots on pale reticulated background.

Similar Species:

Gymnothorax conspersus, Saddled Moray

Saddled Moray, Gymnothorax conspersus. Teeth not numerous; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout blunt, jaws short. Teeth wedge-shaped and serrate, no long canines. Three pores along upper jaw. Head and body spotted dorsally and ventrally; tail dark, with few large white spots. Dorsal fin with bold pattern of white saddle marks on black fin.

Gymnothorax hubbsi, Lichen Moray

Lichen Moray, Gymnothorax hubbsi. Teeth not numerous, some long canines; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout blunt, jaws short; teeth wedge-shaped and serrate, no long canines. Four pores along upper jaw. Overall color pattern on head, body, and tail of pale dendritic marks on brown background.

Gymnothorax kolpos, Blacktail Moray

Blacktail Moray, Gymnothorax kolpos. Teeth not numerous, some long canines; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout blunt, jaws short; teeth wedge-shaped and serrate, no long canines. Three pores along upper jaw. Head and body spotted dorsally and ventrally; tail dark, with few large white spots. Dorsal fin with dark margin, with body coloration basally.

Gymnothorax saxicola, Honeycomb Moray

Honeycomb Moray,  Gymnothorax saxicola. Teeth not numerous; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout blunt, jaws short; teeth wedge-shaped and serrate, no long canines. Three pores along upper jaw. Head and body spotted dorsally, pale and unspotted ventrally; tail spotted or patterned, not noticeably dark. Dorsal fin with black and white pattern, anal fin without pattern, but with dark edge. Body with pale polygonal spots separated by narrow reticulations.

Gymnothorax maderensis, Sharktooth Moray

Sharktooth Moray, Gymnothorax maderensis. Teeth not numerous, some long canines; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout blunt, jaws short; teeth wedge-shaped and serrate, no long canines. Four pores along upper jaw. Color pattern of dark reticulations on pale body and tail, head dusky.

Gymnothorax moringa, Spotted Moray

Spotted Moray, Gymnothorax moringa. Teeth not numerous, some long canines; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout and jaws elongate; teeth slender and smooth, some as very long canines. Color pattern of small dark spots or blotches on pale background. Contrasting pattern of overlapping small dark spots on pale background.

Gymnothorax nigromarginatus, Blackedge Moray

Blackedge Moray, Gymnothorax nigromarginatus. Teeth not numerous; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout blunt, jaws short; teeth wedge-shaped and serrate, no long canines. Three pores along upper jaw. Head and body spotted dorsally, pale and unspotted ventrally; tail spotted or patterned, not noticeably dark. Dorsal and anal fins with body coloration and dark margins.

Gymnothorax ocellatus, Ocellated Moray

Ocellated Moray, Gymnothorax ocellatus. Teeth not numerous; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout blunt, jaws short; teeth wedge-shaped and serrate, no long canines. Three pores along upper jaw. Head and body spotted dorsally, pale and unspotted ventrally; tail spotted or patterned, not noticeably dark. Dorsal fin with black and white pattern, anal fin with alternating dark and pale areas. Body with distinct well-separated pale spots.

Gymnothorax vicinus, Purplemouth Moray

Purplemouth Moray, Gymnothorax vicinus. Teeth not numerous, some long canines; intermaxillary teeth 3 rows across, maxillary teeth in 1 row (few inner teeth in young). Snout and jaws elongate; teeth slender and smooth, some as very long canines. Color pattern of small dark spots or blotches on pale background. Diffuse pattern of spots and blotches (purplish in life) on pale background.