PORT PHILLIP BAY


Southern Moray 

Gymnothorax austrinus Böhlke & McCosker, 2001

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: many
Anal fin spines/rays: many
Caudal fin rays: ?
Pectoral fin rays: -
Ventral fin spines/rays: -
Lateral line: -
Vertebrae: 151

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other mersitics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Body usually very long, slender, with long-based dorsal and anal fins continuous with the tail fin (if present) in all but one species. All species lack pelvic fins, and some groups lack pectoral fins. Scales are usually absent, or if present, are embedded in skin. All species pass through a pelagic, ribbon- or leaf-like larval stage called a leptocephalus larva.

Family level detail.
A large and diverse group of small to large bottom-dwelling eels, mostly found on tropical and subtropical reefs. Their dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the tail and they lack scales, and pectoral fins. They have a reduced lateral line, pore-like gill openings and most have well-developed teeth and often intricate colour patterns.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Anguilliformes
Family:
Muraenidae
Genus:
Gymnothorax
Species:
austrinus

General Description

Known only from one very old specimen collected in Half Moon Bay in 1884. Colour in preservative: medium brown with fine dark striations in skin folds on head, fins with a narrow pale margin, underside pale. To 88 cm.

Habitat

Reefs

Species Group

Fishes › Eels

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

88 cm

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Southern Moray, Gymnothorax austrinus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 19 Apr 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6276

Text: creative commons cc by licence