The fangtooth moray (Enchelycore anatina) sometimes also known as tiger moray[3] or bird-eye conger[4] is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae found in warmer parts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, including the Canary Islands, Madeira and various other islands. It entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic and is now found occasionally in the eastern Basin, from Levantine waters and off Turkey, Greece, Croatia and Sicily.[5]

Fangtooth moray
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anguilliformes
Family: Muraenidae
Genus: Enchelycore
Species:
E. anatina
Binomial name
Enchelycore anatina
(R. T. Lowe, 1838)
Synonyms[2]
  • Muraena anatina Lowe, 1838
  • Gymnothorax anatinus (Lowe, 1838)
  • Lycodontis anatinus (Lowe, 1838)
  • Muraena sanctaehelenae Günther, 1870

Description

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The fangtooth moray is distinctive for its bright yellow head with elongated jaws, which are filled with a large number of long "glasslike" teeth. The body is moderate to dark brown in color with pale spots on the body and fins. The dorsal and anal fins are fused with the caudal and covered with thick skin. The dorsal fin originates on the head above or slightly in front of the gill openings. The pectoral and ventral fins are absent. It can reach up to 120 cm (47 in) in length.[6] The fangtooth moray is a demersal species, inhabiting rocky bottoms rich in crevices. The moray eels are nocturnal carnivores mainly feeding on benthic fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Smith, D.G.; McCosker, J. (2015). "Enchelycore anatina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T195688A2402886. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T195688A2402886.en. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  2. ^ Synonyms of Enchelycore anatina at www.fishbase.org.
  3. ^ Sergio Hanquet, Diving in Canaries, Litografía A. ROMERO, 2001. ISBN 84-932195-0-9
  4. ^ Common names of Enchelycore anatina Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine at www.fishbase.org.
  5. ^ Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Enchelycore anatina). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Enchelycore_anatina.pdf
  6. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Enchelycore anatina". FishBase. January 2008 version.
  7. ^ "(PDF) Undergoing invasion of the fangtooth moray, Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1838) in the Adriatic Sea - Evidence of post spawning reproduction stage". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2020-10-11.