Species learning profile

Snowflake moray

Echidna nebulosa

Snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa) is a saltwater fish associated with reef habitat in Indo-Pacific. Blunt pebble-like teeth crush crab and shellfish armor.

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RecifeMuraenidae

At a glance

Água
Água salgada
Habitat
Recife
Comprimento máximo
100 cm
Distribuição
Indo-Pacífico
Família
Muraenidae
Ordem
Anguilliformes

Observe

How to identify Snowflake moray

  • Blunt pebble-like teeth crush crab and shellfish armor.
  • Guide context: reef habitat in Indo-Pacific.
  • Reported maximum length: 100 cm — up to about the length of a guitar. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.

Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.

Place and pattern

Where it lives—and how it behaves

Habitat and range

This species is associated with reef habitat across Indo-Pacific. Reef crevices provide shelter while current, coral, algae, and neighboring animals supply food.

Behavior

Hunts reef crevices mostly after dark

Food-web connections

What it eats and why it matters

Diet

Crabs, shrimp, and octopus.

Ecological role

A specialist predator of reef crustaceans.

Remember

One fact worth keeping

Snowflake moray pode chegar a cerca de 100 cm e costuma viver perto de Recife.

Think like a conservationist

A conservation lens

Reef fish are affected by coral loss, warming, destructive fishing, pollution, and the removal of key grazers or predators.

This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.

Recall

Quick knowledge check

Which habitat is most closely associated with Snowflake moray in this guide?

Keep exploring

References and further reading

Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.

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