Sealife guideThe goldentail morayGymnothorax miliaris
Last updated on 09/03/2025 at 11:25 PM
Taxonomy
- Common name: Goldentail moray
- French name: Murène porcelaine, murène dorée
- Spanish name: Morena cola dorada
- Scientific name: Gymnothorax miliaris (Kaup, 1856)
- Family name: Muraenidae
- Order name: Anguilliformes
- Class name: Actinopterygii
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

Banded moray
(Gymnothorax rueppelliae)

Banded mud moray
(Gymnothorax chlamydatus)

Barred-fin moray eel
(Gymnothorax zonipectis)

Fimbriated moray
(Gymnothorax fimbriatus)

Green moray eel
(Gymnothorax funebris)

Grey moray
(Gymnothorax griseus)

Lipspot moray
(Gymnothorax chilospilus)

Undulated moray
(Gymnothorax undulatus)
Within the same family

Chain moray
(Echidna catenata)

Fangtooth moray
(Enchelycore anatina)

Mediterranean moray eel
(Muraena helena)

Ribbon eel
(Rhinomuraena quaesita)

Snowflake moray
(Echidna nebulosa)

Zebra moray
(Gymnomuraena zebra)
Discover also

Brown-marbled grouper
(Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)

European flounder
(Platichthys flesus)

Honeycomb grouper
(Epinephelus merra)

Sabre squirrelfish
(Sargocentron spiniferum)

Scribbled angelfish
(Chaetodontoplus duboulayi)

Thornback cowfish
(Lactoria fornasini)

Yellowfin surgeonfish
(Acanthurus xanthopterus)

Yellowhead jawfish
(Opistognathus aurifrons)
The marine species from northwestern Atlantic ocean

Banded cleaner shrimp
(Stenopus hispidus)

Gag grouper
(Mycteroperca microlepis)

Mahi-mahi
(Coryphaena hippurus)

Painted tunicate
(Clavelina picta)

Pederson cleaner shrimp
(Ancylomenes pedersoni)

Smooth trunkfish
(Rhinesomus triqueter)

White grunt
(Haemulon plumierii)

Yellowtail snapper
(Ocyurus chrysurus)
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