Moray Eel
Gymnothorax javanicus
The giant moray is a moray eel in the family Muraenidae. By body mass it is the heaviest of the moray eels, though the slender giant moray surpasses it in sheer length.
Family
Muraenidae
Avg Size
150-240 cm
Habitat
It is widespread across the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the east African coast, including the Red Sea, to the Pitcairn group, the Hawaiian Islands and Polynesia, north to southern Japan and south to New Caledonia, Fiji and the Austral Islands. It inhabits lagoons and the outer slopes of coral reefs, sheltering by day in crevices at depths between about 1 and 50 metres.
Behaviour
The giant moray is a nocturnal carnivore that hunts through the reef, and it is known to team up with the roving coral grouper (Plectropomus pessuliferus) in cooperative hunts. The two are complementary: the eel flushes prey out of the reef toward the grouper, while the grouper hunting above drives prey down into the reef where the moray can ambush it. Its diet is mainly fish with the occasional crustacean, and it was recently identified as a natural predator of the lionfish (Pterois miles) in its native Red Sea range.
Where & When to See It
North Ras Abu Galum
South Ras Abu Galum
SS Turkia
Abu Ghalawa
Abu Hashish
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
Aida
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Big Brother Island
Big Giftun
Blue Hole - El Bells
Bluff Point
Careless Reef
Chrisoula K
Eel Garden
Eel Gardens
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Fanous West
El Mina Wreck
Elphinstone
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Fury Shoals
Giannis D
Gordon Reef
Gota Abu Ramada
Gota Kebir
Habili Gaffar
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kimon M
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Lighthouse
Middle Garden
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Napoleon Reef
Near Garden
North Gabr El Bint
Numidia
Panorama Reef
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Abu Helal
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Nasrani
Ras Um Sid
Ras Zaatar
Rocky Island
Rosalie Moller
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Eissa
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Petra
Shaab Sabina
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark's Bay
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Small Giftun
Sodfa
Soma Bay Garden
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Canyon
The Islands
The Ulysses
Thomas Reef
Three Pools
Tower
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar South
Umm Kharalim
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Zabargad Island
Abu Kifan
Amphoras
Carnatic
Daedalus Reef
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Gota Soraya
Habili Ali
Little Brother Island
Ras Katy
Salem Express
Shaab Sataya
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark Observatory
The Caves
Thistlegorm
Turtle Bay
Abu Nuhas
Umm Gamar North
Shaab Claudia
Abu Dabbab