Gymnothorax polyuranodon

Gymnothorax polyuranodon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Superorder: Elopomorpha
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Gymnothorax
Species: G. polyuranodon
Binomial name
Gymnothorax polyuranodon
(Bleeker, 1854)

Description and Geographic Distribution

The Freshwater Moray Eel (Gymnothorax polyuranodon), known by a variety of other common names, is a species of moray eel that is native to the Indo-Pacific region, including Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the northern coastline of Australia, and various islands in the western Pacific. It can reach a maximum length of five feet (1.5 meters) long, but it is rarely seen larger than three feet (one meter). The coloration of this species is yellow or light tan covered with dark brown spots and blotches, making it ideal camouflage.

Gymnothorax polyuranodon was named by Pieter Bleeker in 1853.[1] Other common names for this species include the Many-Toothed Moray, the Spotted Freshwater Moray, the Blackspotted Moray, and the Tiger Freshwater Moray.[2] [3]

Gymnothorax polyuranodon has small teeth in proportion to the size of its head. Like all moray eels, this eel is carnivorous. Its diet consists almost entirely of fish, and occasionally shrimp, bivalves, and worms, and it prefers to eat live food. Like many moray eels, it has poor vision but an excellent sense of smell, and it can be aggressive.[4]

Habitat

Gymnothorax polyuranodon is a shallow-water species, often dwelling in water with a depth of just ten feet (three meters) or less. It is found in shallow marine coastal waters, estuaries, river mouths, and for short distances upriver.[5]

Although this species is often marketed as a "freshwater" moray eel, this is actually inaccurate. Gymnothorax polyuranodon is a marine species which, unlike most other morays, is able to tolerate water with lower salinity levels. It is often found in brackish water environments where freshwater mixes with saltwater (areas that also might have murky visibility, hence its brown camouflage color), and it can also tolerate living in pure fresh water, but only for short periods of time; prolonged dwelling in fresh water will eventually make it sick and it might die.[1]

Juveniles of this species are frequently encountered in brackish water, especially in mangrove forests, which they hide in for protection against larger fish. However, as they get older and grow larger, they gradually transition to marine environments.[5]

The Aquarium Trade

Gymnothorax polyuranodon is an uncommon species in the wild, and it has been rare in the aquarium pet trade, but in recent years, there has been an increasing amount of interest in this species. Because it is often marketed as a freshwater species, buyers frequently assume that this fish can only survive in fresh water, which is untrue. It should ideally be placed in a marine aquarium or a brackish aquarium with medium-level salinity.

Because of its full-grown size, it is recommended that the minimum tank size for this eel should be 150 gallons, and preferably larger. Also, due to its aggressive nature and its diet of live fish, it is unwise to keep this eel with small fish species because they will probably be eaten. It is best to keep this eel with larger fish, or as a species-only tank.

Like all moray eels, this species does not like to be confined in a tank and it will try to escape. Therefore, the whole top of the aquarium must be secured with a tight-fitting lid. This eel, like others, will compress its body and squeeze through the smallest open gap.

References


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