Species: Catesbya pseudomuraena, Catesby’s False Moray

Catesbya pseudomuraena Bohlke & Smith, 1968

Catesby’s False Moray

Elongate, slightly compressed; head elongate, slender; large eyes; front nostril tubular, points downward; rear nostril opens in top lip under eye; mouth large, extends well behind eye; no flange on either lip; teeth slender, needlelike; jaw teeth in ~8 parallel diagonal rows; a patch of 3 rows of teeth in center of front jaws, separated by a longitudinal groove from the main bands of jaw teeth; 4 rows of teeth in center of roof of mouth, inner 2 rows much larger than outer 2 rows; gill opening small, oval, lateral; pectoral fins a little larger than eye, rounded; dorsal and anal fins well developed, continuous with tail fin, dorsal origin just behind gill opening; lateral line with 1 pore on rear of head, 7 pores along lower jaw, rear one well behind mouth opening.

Brown; edges of median fins paler.

Reaches at least 14 cm.

Lives on reefs.

Depth range: 8-15 m.

The Bahamas.