Species: Gymnothorax polygonius, Polygon Moray

Gymnothorax polygonius Poey, 1875

Polygon Moray

Body elongate, compressed at rear; tail tapering; snout elongate and pointed, narrowing sharply from a bulbous nape; head and trunk shorter than to slightly >1/2 TL; eye slightly before middle of mouth; front nostril a simple tube; rear nostril a round to oval hole (slightly raised in large fish) at level of profile of head; jaws elongate; lower jaw straight, mouth closes completely; teeth strong, smooth, canines at front of jaws; 2 rows of 5-6 teeth at front of top jaws, closely followed by a single row of 8-12 jaw teeth; roof of mouth with 1 row of 5-12 small teeth; lower jaw with 16-25 pointed teeth; gill opening round to a slit; dorsal and anal fins covered with skin, but evident; dorsal origin on head, before gill opening.

Body with narrow dark purplish-brown lines separating polygonal, squarish or irregular cream to tan blotches; within the pale areas are numerous pale spots separated by dark reticulating lines; head with pale spots separated by dark reticulating lines; inside mouth purple; margin of anal fin yellow; margin of dorsal fin pale brown.

Reaches 84 cm.

Habitat uncertain.

Depth range: 90-354 m.

E, Central and W Atlantic; N Carolina to Brazil.