Gymnothorax kolpos

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
MuraenidaeGymnothorax kolposBöhlke and Böhlke1980Blacktail Moray

All Gymnothorax — Dorsal fin beginning above and near to dorsal-fin origin well-before anus (usually on head). Anal fin beginning just behind anus. Dorsal fin beginning above and before anus. Posterior nostril flush or nearly so with head profile; gill opening with body coloration.

Gymnothorax kolpos

Unique Characters: 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.

Similar Species:

Lichen Moray
Gymnothorax hubbsi

Saddled Moray
Gymnothorax conspersus

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.

Saddled Moray Gymnothorax conspersus. 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 bold pattern of white saddle marks on black fin.

Blackedge Moray Gymnothorax nigromarginatus

Honeycomb Moray Gymnothorax saxicola

Ocellated Moray Gymnothorax ocellatus

Gymnothorax saxicola
Honeycomb Moray – Gymnothorax saxicola

Blackedge Moray Gymnothorax nigromarginatus. 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, pale and unspotted ventrally; tail spotted or patterned, not noticeably dark. Dorsal and anal fins with body coloration and dark margins.

Honeycomb Moray Gymnothorax saxicola. 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, 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.

Ocellated Moray Gymnothorax ocellatus. 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, 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.

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