Enchelycore pardalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Leopard moray eel
photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Family:  Muraenidae (Moray eels), subfamily: Muraeninae
Max. size:  92 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 8 - 60 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Reunion to the Hawaiian, Line and Society islands, north to southern Japan (Ref. 559) and southern Korea, south to New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  Vertebrae: 119-126. Description: Characterized by brown to brownish orange with narrow irregular dark brown bars on body, numerous dark-edged white spots, small black spots on head and body; body depth at gill opening 10-16 in TL; dorsal fin anterior to gill opening; anus anterior to middle of body; combined head and trunk (preanal length) 2.1-2.3 in TL; slender and hooked jaws; visible long canine teeth in gap between jaws when mouth closed and viewed laterally; two rows of jaw teeth; small and sharp outer row teeth, close to canines of inner row; median row at front of upper jaw with three elongate canines; elongate and tubular anterior nostril; posterior nostril a very long tube above front of eye (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits coral and rocky reefs. Common in warm-temperate waters (Ref. 9710). Benthic at 1-35 m (Ref. 58302). Feeds on fishes (Ref. 9710).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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