The dragon moray is a moray eel of warm Indo-Pacific reefs whose long, curved jaws can't fully close. Its reddish-brown body is splashed with white and yellow spots, which makes it a sought-after aquarium fish. In the U.S. it lives in Hawaii, where it is called puhi-kauila; it is also known as the leopard moray.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Grows to about 3 ft (up to 36 in, 92 cm). The front and rear nostrils stick out as long tubes.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Coral reefs
- Rocky reefs
- Range
- Found across the warm Indo-Pacific, from Réunion in the Indian Ocean east to the Hawaiian, Line, and Society Islands, and north to southern Japan and southern Korea.
- Preferred conditions
- Hides in reef crevices, usually at about 16–200 ft (5–60 m).
Behavior
- Diet
- Fish and small octopus and squid. To tear big prey, it spins its body or ties itself into a knot for leverage.
- Activity
- Mostly active at night; it stays in crevices during the day.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
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