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 mud moray
(Gymnothorax chlamydatus)

Fimbriated moray
(Gymnothorax fimbriatus)

Grey moray
(Gymnothorax griseus)

Laced moray eel
(Gymnothorax favagineus)

Lipspot moray
(Gymnothorax chilospilus)

Undulated moray
(Gymnothorax undulatus)

White eyed moray
(Gymnothorax thyrsoideus)

Yellowmouth moray
(Gymnothorax nudivomer)
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

Atlantic tarpon
(Megalops atlanticus)

Bird mouth wrasse
(Gomphosus varius)

Dogtooth tuna
(Gymnosarda unicolor)

Highhat
(Pareques acuminatus)

Mexican hogfish
(Bodianus diplotaenia)

Pearly razorfish
(Xyrichtys novacula)

Scaleless shrimpgoby
(Tomiyamichthys nudus)

Spotted drum
(Equetus punctatus)
The marine species from northwestern Atlantic ocean

Blue striped grunt
(Haemulon sciurus)

Blue tang surgeonfish
(Acanthurus coeruleus)

Gray snapper
(Lutjanus griseus)

Graysby
(Cephalopholis cruentata)

Leatherback sea turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea)

Mahi-mahi
(Coryphaena hippurus)

Saucereye porgy
(Calamus calamus)

Spotted goatfish
(Pseudupeneus maculatus)
Our latestUpdates

Monday, August 3rd 2026
The olive ridley sea turtle
Discover the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), the world's most abundant sea turtle, famous for its spectacular mass nesting events, wide tropical distribution, unique behavior, diet, reproduction, and conservation challenges.

Thursday, May 7th 2026
Faroe islands
Discover the Faroe islands, a remote archipelago between Iceland and Norway known for its dramatic cliffs, colorful villages, and untouched Nordic landscapes. Find travel tips, itineraries, hiking guides, local culture, and inspiration to explore this unique destination in the North Atlantic.

Wednesday, May 6th 2026
The short-finned pilot whale
Discover the tropical pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), a highly social large cetacean from tropical and subtropical waters, specialized in deep dives in search of squid.
Photo of the Day

Sterne arctique
(Sterna paradisaea)