Gymnothorax javanicus

Giant moray – Óriás muréna (2,3 m) As the name suggests, this is a large eel, reaching up to 300 cm (10.0 ft) in length and 30 kg (66.1 lbs) in weight. While juveniles are tan in colour with large black spots, adults have black specks that grade into leopard-like spots behind the head and a black area surrounding the gill opening. Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, 1 to 46 m. Feeds primaly on fishes, occasionally on crustaceans. Mormally docile and occasionally ‘tamed’ by dive guides, but has been implicated in unprovoked attacks and caused severe injury. Being at the top of the food chain it is likely to cause ciguatera poisoning if eaten. Range: Red Sea to Marquesas and Pitcairn, north to Ryukyus and Hawaiian Is., south to S. Africa; absent from Arabian Gulf and Oman.