About Gymnothorax breedeni McCosker & Randall, 1977
Gymnothorax breedeni, commonly called the blackcheek moray eel, is a medium-sized fish. It can reach a maximum length of 100 cm, though most individuals observed are usually smaller. Its body has a brown base color, densely speckled with darker spots. This species is easily identified by a large, irregular black patch that runs from the eye to the corner of the mouth, which gives the eel its common name. The eel’s anus and gill openings are also black. Blackcheek moray eels are widespread across tropical Indo-Pacific waters, ranging from the eastern coast of Africa to Pacific oceanic islands including Polynesia, but excluding Hawaii. They are very common on reefs in the Maldives. This moray eel lives on clear seaward reefs of oceanic islands, and is especially found in porous coral rock, reef walls, and steep slopes with holes. It prefers reefs made of rubble and debris from dead coral, which it uses for shelter. It is most often found on outer slopes at depths between 4 and 40 meters.
