Species: Uropterygius macularius, Marbled Moray

Uropterygius macularius (Lesueur, 1825)

Marbled Moray

Slender, moderately elongate, compressed at rear; tail slightly longer than head & trunk; snout short, ~conical; eye moderate, over middle of jaws; front nostril tubular; rear nostril a hole above front edge of eye; jaws short; teeth conical, slender, sharp; top jaws with outer row of close-set small teeth and an inner row of larger teeth; between front jaws with outer ring of small teeth, and 3 irregular rows of 3-4 large depressible canines; 3-11 short teeth on roof of mouth well behind the front tooth patch; lower jaw with outer row of small teeth and an inner row of ~5 large teeth on each side at front; gill opening a small slit at ~mid side; pores above & below eye, along lower jaw, before gill opening; dorsal & anal fins present as skin covered ridges near tip of tail.

Brown; with indistinct pale star-shaped mottling on body, mottling stronger on lower head and chin.

Reaches 29 cm.

Coral and rocky reefs.

Depth range: 1-230 m.

S Carolina to Brazil and the central Atlantic islands.