Zebra moray
A striped reef eel that eats hard-shelled prey.
The zebra moray is a marine eel found across the Indo-Pacific. It lives in shallow reefs and hunts crustaceans at night. This species stands out for its diet of hard-shelled animals rather than fish.
- Grows up to 150 cm but usually stays near 50 cm.
- Eats only crustaceans, urchins and mollusks.
- Found from Africa to the Americas in shallow reefs.
- Active hunter at night rather than an ambusher.
What it is
This marine eel belongs to the family Muraenidae. It is the sole species within the genus Gymnomuraena, although some classifications place it in Echidna. The fish displays dense dark and white bands, which provide its common name. Its snout is short and rounded. While adults may grow to 150 cm, most individuals seen are around 50 cm long.
Where it lives
Its distribution covers the Indo-Pacific region extensively. Populations exist from the eastern African coast to the western Americas. The range includes the Red Sea, Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands. These eels prefer benthic zones on rocky substrates or coral reefs. They inhabit coastal shallow waters, typically staying at depths no greater than 40 metres.
How it lives
Activity peaks during the night when it hunts actively. This behaviour differs from many relatives that ambush prey. Its diet consists entirely of invertebrates with hard shells. It consumes crustaceans, sea urchins and mollusks. This exclusive focus on such prey sets it apart from other moray eels that often eat fish.
Questions people ask about Zebra moray
What does the zebra moray eat?
It feeds exclusively on hard-shelled invertebrates. Its diet includes crustaceans, sea urchins and mollusks. This differs from most other moray eels that consume fish.
How large do they get?
Adults can reach a length of 150 cm. However, the size most commonly observed in the wild is approximately 50 cm.
Where do they live?
They inhabit rocky or coral reefs in coastal shallow waters. Their range extends across the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, Hawaii and the Galápagos.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Zebra moray", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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