About Gymnothorax pictus (Ahl, 1789)
This species, known commonly as the peppered moray, has a pale base color marked with purplish speckles that cluster together as the individual ages. Young peppered morays have no spots or vertical bars; they are pale purplish with white bellies. The species reaches a maximum total length of 140 cm. Peppered morays feed on small fish and crustaceans. G. pictus is visually similar to the species Gymnothorax griseus. When hunting prey, peppered morays may leave the water entirely or leap out of the water. The flesh of this species is poisonous, so it is dangerous to eat. The peppered moray is commonly found in tropical marine waters across the Indo-Pacific, and also occurs around islands of the tropical Eastern Pacific. It inhabits very shallow water on reef flats. Confirmed locations where the species has been found include Suva Reef in the Fiji Islands, Clarion Island, and the Revillagigedo Islands.
