Plain brown, tip of snout white, irregular white patches
on jaws; darker behind eye and on corner of mouth. Attains
53 cm. Natal northwards and east to central Pacific.
41.2 Echidna leucotaenia: 31 em (Sodwana Bay). Arrow indicates anus.
Floral moray
41.3 Echidna nebulosa
(Ahl,1789)
PLATE 7
Blompaling
Muraena nebulosa Ahl, 1789: 5, PI. 1, Fig. 2 (Indonesia). Echidna
nebulosa: Smith, SFSA No. 1122*; 1962: 423*.
Head about 7, depth 15-20. Teeth broadly conical, blunter with age;
uniserial on jaws, becoming biserial with age; a patch on intermaxillary;
biserial on vomer. Vertebrae 121-123.
Colour variable but commonly white or yellowish,
marked by 25-30 brownish black, vertical blotches, each
made up of 2-3 yellow-centred, flower-shaped spots; scattered flecks between the spots. Attains 70 cm. East London
to southern Mozambique, Indo-Pacific.
41.3 Echidna nebulosa: 32 em.
Barred moray
41.4 Echidna polyzona
(Richardson, 1845)
Balk-bontpaling
Muraena polyzona Richardson, 1845: 112 (Pacific). Echidna polyzona:
Smith, SFSA No. 1121*; 1962: 423*; Smith, 1969: 294*; 1980: 185.
Head 6.5, depth about 13. Teeth broadly conical, blunter with age;
biserial on jaws; oval patch of molars on vomer. Vertebrae 113-120.
Rich brown; young with 25-30 greyish yellow, vertical
bars that become progressively more obscure until the body
is mottled dark brown in adults; angle of mouth dark.
Attains 60 cm. Natal northwards; Indo-Pacific.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
41.4 Echidna poly zona: 35 em (Inhaea Id.).
41.5 Echidna zebra
(Shaw, 1797)
PLATE 8
Zebra moray
Sebra-bontpaling
Gymnothorax zebra Shaw, 1797: PI. 322 (Pacific). Echidna zebra:
Smith, SFSA No. 1120*; 1962: 423*.
Head 15, depth 20. Anus at two thirds of body length. Teeth
molariform, in 2-3 rows on lower jaw and in an almost continuous pavement on upper jaw and vomer. Vertebrae 132-137.
Deep blackish brown with many narrow, yellowish vertical bars. Attains 150 cm. From Durban northward; IndoPacific.
41.5 Echidna zebra: 40 em.
Genus Gymnothorax Bloch, 1795
Numerous species; 20 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a D origin closer to anus than to gill opening; (colour light
brown overlain with numerous dark spots) ...... G. fuscomaculatus
1 b D origin over or in front of gill opening ................................ 2
2a Body plain, lacking mottling, spots or bars ............................ 3
2b Body with light or dark spots, mottling, bands or bars .. . .. . .. . ... . 5
3a Body uniform golden, with conspicuous dark spot
surrounding gill opening; vomer with blunt,
molariform teeth .............................................. G. melatremus
3b Body brown to yellow; no distinct spot over gill
opening; small conical teeth on vomer .................................. 4
167
on jaws; darker behind eye and on corner of mouth. Attains
53 cm. Natal northwards and east to central Pacific.
41.2 Echidna leucotaenia: 31 em (Sodwana Bay). Arrow indicates anus.
Floral moray
41.3 Echidna nebulosa
(Ahl,1789)
PLATE 7
Blompaling
Muraena nebulosa Ahl, 1789: 5, PI. 1, Fig. 2 (Indonesia). Echidna
nebulosa: Smith, SFSA No. 1122*; 1962: 423*.
Head about 7, depth 15-20. Teeth broadly conical, blunter with age;
uniserial on jaws, becoming biserial with age; a patch on intermaxillary;
biserial on vomer. Vertebrae 121-123.
Colour variable but commonly white or yellowish,
marked by 25-30 brownish black, vertical blotches, each
made up of 2-3 yellow-centred, flower-shaped spots; scattered flecks between the spots. Attains 70 cm. East London
to southern Mozambique, Indo-Pacific.
41.3 Echidna nebulosa: 32 em.
Barred moray
41.4 Echidna polyzona
(Richardson, 1845)
Balk-bontpaling
Muraena polyzona Richardson, 1845: 112 (Pacific). Echidna polyzona:
Smith, SFSA No. 1121*; 1962: 423*; Smith, 1969: 294*; 1980: 185.
Head 6.5, depth about 13. Teeth broadly conical, blunter with age;
biserial on jaws; oval patch of molars on vomer. Vertebrae 113-120.
Rich brown; young with 25-30 greyish yellow, vertical
bars that become progressively more obscure until the body
is mottled dark brown in adults; angle of mouth dark.
Attains 60 cm. Natal northwards; Indo-Pacific.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
41.4 Echidna poly zona: 35 em (Inhaea Id.).
41.5 Echidna zebra
(Shaw, 1797)
PLATE 8
Zebra moray
Sebra-bontpaling
Gymnothorax zebra Shaw, 1797: PI. 322 (Pacific). Echidna zebra:
Smith, SFSA No. 1120*; 1962: 423*.
Head 15, depth 20. Anus at two thirds of body length. Teeth
molariform, in 2-3 rows on lower jaw and in an almost continuous pavement on upper jaw and vomer. Vertebrae 132-137.
Deep blackish brown with many narrow, yellowish vertical bars. Attains 150 cm. From Durban northward; IndoPacific.
41.5 Echidna zebra: 40 em.
Genus Gymnothorax Bloch, 1795
Numerous species; 20 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a D origin closer to anus than to gill opening; (colour light
brown overlain with numerous dark spots) ...... G. fuscomaculatus
1 b D origin over or in front of gill opening ................................ 2
2a Body plain, lacking mottling, spots or bars ............................ 3
2b Body with light or dark spots, mottling, bands or bars .. . .. . .. . ... . 5
3a Body uniform golden, with conspicuous dark spot
surrounding gill opening; vomer with blunt,
molariform teeth .............................................. G. melatremus
3b Body brown to yellow; no distinct spot over gill
opening; small conical teeth on vomer .................................. 4
167