Panamic green moray (Gymnothorax castaneus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Gymnothorax castaneus
- Common name
- Panamic green moray
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Muraenidae
- Genus
- Gymnothorax
- Size
- 100–150 cm
- Depth
- 3–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Caution
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, nocturnal, predator
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Gymnothorax castaneus reaches 150 cm. Large Eastern Pacific moray with uniform chestnut-brown body (hence castaneus) to dark olive-brown, without contrasting patterns. Lives from 3 to 40 m in crevices, caves and fissures of rocky reefs from Gulf of California to Peru, Galapagos. Nocturnal predator of fish and cephalopods. One of the largest Eastern Pacific morays. Iconic photo subject of Sea of Cortez dives, often visible head out of hole. Eastern Pacific cousin of Indo-Pacific Gymnothorax like G. javanicus (batch 5) and Atlantic.
Photo of Panamic green moray
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Panamic green moray?
- Panamic green moray (Gymnothorax castaneus) reaches 100–150 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Panamic green moray?
- Panamic green moray is found between 3–40 m deep.
- Is the Panamic green moray dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Caution.
- What is the conservation status of the Panamic green moray?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Panamic green moray?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Gymnothorax
- Gymnothorax unicolor - Brown moray
- Gymnothorax dovii - Green-spotted Moray
- Gymnothorax flavimarginatus - Yellow-margined Moray
- Gymnothorax funebris - Green moray
- Gymnothorax moringa - Spotted moray
- Gymnothorax javanicus - Giant moray
Other species in the family Muraenidae
- Muraena helena - Mediterranean moray
- Muraena augusti - Black moray
- Enchelycore anatina - Fangtooth moray
- Rhinomuraena quaesita - Ribbon moray
- Echidna nocturna - Panamic green moray
- Gymnomuraena zebra - Zebra moray
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 271825)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2404111)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia