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
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
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
Within the same genus
Banded moray (Gymnothorax rueppelliae)
Banded moray
(Gymnothorax rueppelliae)
Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus)
Banded mud moray
(Gymnothorax chlamydatus)
Grey moray (Gymnothorax griseus)
Grey moray
(Gymnothorax griseus)
Laced moray eel (Gymnothorax favagineus)
Laced moray eel
(Gymnothorax favagineus)
Lipspot moray (Gymnothorax chilospilus)
Lipspot moray
(Gymnothorax chilospilus)
Undulated moray (Gymnothorax undulatus)
Undulated moray
(Gymnothorax undulatus)
White eyed moray (Gymnothorax thyrsoideus)
White eyed moray
(Gymnothorax thyrsoideus)
Yellowmouth moray (Gymnothorax nudivomer)
Yellowmouth moray
(Gymnothorax nudivomer)
Within the same family
Chain moray (Echidna catenata)
Chain moray
(Echidna catenata)
Fangtooth moray (Enchelycore anatina)
Fangtooth moray
(Enchelycore anatina)
Mediterranean moray eel (Muraena helena)
Mediterranean moray eel
(Muraena helena)
Ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita)
Ribbon eel
(Rhinomuraena quaesita)
Snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa)
Snowflake moray
(Echidna nebulosa)
Zebra moray (Gymnomuraena zebra)
Zebra moray
(Gymnomuraena zebra)
Discover also
Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)
Bumphead parrotfish
(Bolbometopon muricatum)
Cottonwick grunt (Haemulon melanurum)
Cottonwick grunt
(Haemulon melanurum)
Emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
Emperor angelfish
(Pomacanthus imperator)
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata)
Graysby
(Cephalopholis cruentata)
Horned bannerfish (Heniochus varius)
Horned bannerfish
(Heniochus varius)
Painted comber (Serranus scriba)
Painted comber
(Serranus scriba)
Purple anthias (Pseudanthias tuka)
Purple anthias
(Pseudanthias tuka)
Scaleless shrimpgoby (Tomiyamichthys nudus)
Scaleless shrimpgoby
(Tomiyamichthys nudus)
The marine species from northwestern Atlantic ocean
Atlantic trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus)
Atlantic trumpetfish
(Aulostomus maculatus)
Banded cleaner shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)
Banded cleaner shrimp
(Stenopus hispidus)
Blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus)
Blackbar soldierfish
(Myripristis jacobus)
Giant caribbean anemone (Condylactis gigantea)
Giant caribbean anemone
(Condylactis gigantea)
Honeycomb cowfish (Acanthostracion polygonium)
Honeycomb cowfish
(Acanthostracion polygonium)
Midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus)
Midnight parrotfish
(Scarus coelestinus)
Queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris)
Queen angelfish
(Holacanthus ciliaris)
Scrawled cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis)
Scrawled cowfish
(Acanthostracion quadricornis)

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