Sealife guideThe goldentail morayGymnothorax miliaris
Last updated on 09/03/2025 at 11:25 PM
Taxonomy
English names
Goldentail moray
French namesMurène porcelaineMurène dorée
Spanish namesMorena cola dorada
Scientific nameGymnothorax miliaris (Kaup, 1856)
FamilyMuraenidae
OrderAnguilliformes
ClassActinopterygii
Habitat
The goldentail moray hides in the crevices of coral reefs. Its body tucked into the cavity, its head emerges with an open mouth, showing all its small, sharp teeth !

The goldentail moray hides in the crevices of coral reefs, with its head protruding
Did you know ?
Worldwide, there are over 200 moray species distributed across 15 genera. The waters around the Florida Keys host 5 different species.
The goldentail moray is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The goldentail moray appears in the IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !
Tips for observing
Small, but like all morays, approach it gently without trying to touch it to avoid a painful bite that could become infected.

The goldentail moray is characterized by its dark brownish-green body, speckled with a multitude of small yellow spots that run the length of its body
Within the same genus

Banded mud morayGymnothorax chlamydatus

Barred-fin moray eelGymnothorax zonipectis

Fimbriated morayGymnothorax fimbriatus

Kidako moray eelGymnothorax kidako

Laced moray eelGymnothorax favagineus

Lipspot morayGymnothorax chilospilus

Undulated morayGymnothorax undulatus

White eyed morayGymnothorax thyrsoideus
Within the same family

Chain morayEchidna catenata

Fangtooth morayEnchelycore anatina

Mediterranean moray eelMuraena helena

Ribbon eelRhinomuraena quaesita

Snowflake morayEchidna nebulosa

Zebra morayGymnomuraena zebra
Discover also

Bigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatus

DoctorfishAcanthurus chirurgus

Filamented gobyExyrias akihito

Kole tangCtenochaetus strigosus

Leaf scorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus

Mangrove red snapperLutjanus argentimaculatus

Mutton snapperLutjanus analis

White seabreamDiplodus sargus
The marine species in the Northwestern Atlantic
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