41.23 Gymnothorax rueppelliae
(McClelland, 1845)
Banded moray
Band-bontpaling
Dalophis rueppel/iae McClelland, 1845: 213 (Bengal, India). Lycodontis petelli: Smith, 1962: 435*. Gymnothorax rueppel/iae: McCosker &
Randall, 1982: 19*.
Head 7-8, depth 15-20. Uniserial sharp teeth on jaws; young with 2-4
inner larger teeth at side of upper jaw; 2 or 3 large, depressible fangs on
intermaxillary; a row of 5 or 6 low conical teeth on vomer. Vertebrae 132135.
Body tan with dark brown or black bands, those on head
and front part of body not continuous ventrally, the posterior bands not reaching edge of A; dark spot at corner of
mouth. Attains 55 cm. Indo-West Pacific from Hawaii to
the Red Sea and south to Bazaruto Id., Mozambique
(22°S).
41.23 Gymnothorax rueppelliae: 34 cm (Enewetak; photo by J.E. Randall).
41.24 Gymnothorax undulatus
(Lacepede, 1803)
PLATE 8
Leopard moray
Luiperd-bontpaling
Muraenophis undulatus Lacepede, 1803: 629, Fig. 2 (locality unknown). Lycodontis undulatus: Smith, SFSA No. 1129*; 1962: 439*.
Head 6.5-8, depth 10-20. Uniserial, sharp teeth on jaws; upper jaw in
young with extra medial fangs; 1-2 depressible fangs on intermaxillary;
uniserial conical teeth on vomer. Vertebrae 129-138.
Highly variable in colour, but mostly light and dark
brown, yellow, grey and white; young with diffuse vertical
bars, especially on tail; adults irregularly mottled. Attains
at least 150 cm. Very common from Port Alfred to southern
Mozambique; Indo-Pacific.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
41.24 Gymnothorax undulatus: top: 68 cm (N . Mozambique); bottom: 22.5 cm
(Kenya); arrow indicates anus.
41.25 Gymnothorax zonipectis
Seale, 1906
Bar-tail moray
Balkstert-bontpaling
Gymnothorax zonipectis Seale, 1906: 7, Fig. 1 (Tahiti).
Head 7-8, depth 18.5. Teeth sharp, slender; uniserial teeth on jaws and
vomer; some larger teeth in inner row on upper jaw; a few depressible
fangs on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 122-126.
Colour pale brown; darker brown spots on body, joining
and becoming darker on tail to form conspicuous, oblique
bars on fins; irregular white blotches and bars on head.
Attains 31 cm. Sodwana Bay; central Pacific. New record
for South Africa.
41.25 Gymnothorax zonipectis: drawing from Albatross Philippine collections.
Arrow indicates anus.
Genus Siderea Kaup, 1856
Two species; both in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Tail about 1.4-1.6 times body length; body uniform or
marbled, with conspicuous lines of black dots on head .. .. .. S. grisea
Ib Tail about equal to body; body greyish, closely
speckled with irregular dark markings.. ...... .................... S. picta
173
(McClelland, 1845)
Banded moray
Band-bontpaling
Dalophis rueppel/iae McClelland, 1845: 213 (Bengal, India). Lycodontis petelli: Smith, 1962: 435*. Gymnothorax rueppel/iae: McCosker &
Randall, 1982: 19*.
Head 7-8, depth 15-20. Uniserial sharp teeth on jaws; young with 2-4
inner larger teeth at side of upper jaw; 2 or 3 large, depressible fangs on
intermaxillary; a row of 5 or 6 low conical teeth on vomer. Vertebrae 132135.
Body tan with dark brown or black bands, those on head
and front part of body not continuous ventrally, the posterior bands not reaching edge of A; dark spot at corner of
mouth. Attains 55 cm. Indo-West Pacific from Hawaii to
the Red Sea and south to Bazaruto Id., Mozambique
(22°S).
41.23 Gymnothorax rueppelliae: 34 cm (Enewetak; photo by J.E. Randall).
41.24 Gymnothorax undulatus
(Lacepede, 1803)
PLATE 8
Leopard moray
Luiperd-bontpaling
Muraenophis undulatus Lacepede, 1803: 629, Fig. 2 (locality unknown). Lycodontis undulatus: Smith, SFSA No. 1129*; 1962: 439*.
Head 6.5-8, depth 10-20. Uniserial, sharp teeth on jaws; upper jaw in
young with extra medial fangs; 1-2 depressible fangs on intermaxillary;
uniserial conical teeth on vomer. Vertebrae 129-138.
Highly variable in colour, but mostly light and dark
brown, yellow, grey and white; young with diffuse vertical
bars, especially on tail; adults irregularly mottled. Attains
at least 150 cm. Very common from Port Alfred to southern
Mozambique; Indo-Pacific.
41: MURAENIDAE (MORAY EELS)
41.24 Gymnothorax undulatus: top: 68 cm (N . Mozambique); bottom: 22.5 cm
(Kenya); arrow indicates anus.
41.25 Gymnothorax zonipectis
Seale, 1906
Bar-tail moray
Balkstert-bontpaling
Gymnothorax zonipectis Seale, 1906: 7, Fig. 1 (Tahiti).
Head 7-8, depth 18.5. Teeth sharp, slender; uniserial teeth on jaws and
vomer; some larger teeth in inner row on upper jaw; a few depressible
fangs on intermaxillary. Vertebrae 122-126.
Colour pale brown; darker brown spots on body, joining
and becoming darker on tail to form conspicuous, oblique
bars on fins; irregular white blotches and bars on head.
Attains 31 cm. Sodwana Bay; central Pacific. New record
for South Africa.
41.25 Gymnothorax zonipectis: drawing from Albatross Philippine collections.
Arrow indicates anus.
Genus Siderea Kaup, 1856
Two species; both in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Tail about 1.4-1.6 times body length; body uniform or
marbled, with conspicuous lines of black dots on head .. .. .. S. grisea
Ib Tail about equal to body; body greyish, closely
speckled with irregular dark markings.. ...... .................... S. picta
173