Indian Mud Moray (Gymnothorax tile)

 Indian Mud Moray (Gymnothorax tile)

An Indian Mud Moray found at the side of a tidal river during an upset in water chemistry.

Family: Muraenidae
Species Name: Gymnothorax tile
Common Name(s): Indian Mud Moray

Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Muddy estuaries, mangrove swamps, river mouths.
Conservation status: Least Concern (Red Data Book 3)

This moray eel is abundant in our estuaries but in true moray eel fashion, it is tough to find due to its elusive nature and that their habitats are usually muddy. Due to its euryhaline nature, it is often sold as a freshwater in the aquarium trade but it thrives much better and longer in brackish water. Growing to a length of 60cm, the Indian Mud Moray preys on other fishes and crustaceans which it uses its strong sense of smell to locate, making up for their poor eyesight. It also has a recognizable look among local moray eels, exhibiting a dirty brown base colour with tiny, yellow speckles.

Like all moray eels, the Indian Mud Moray possesses two sets of jaws: 1. the oral jaw which is used to do the initial grasping of prey and 2. a pharyngeal jaw resting inside that helps to pull the prey in or tear off chunks. 

Another Indian Mud Moray found at the side of a tidal river during an upset in water chemistry.  It is sharing the space with its prey - a Penaeid prawn, showing the direness of the situation.

References

• FishBase. Gymnothorax tile (Hamilton, 1822) – Freshwater Moray. Retrieved from https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Gymnothorax-tile.
• Lim, K.K.P. & Low, J.K.Y. 1998. A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, 163 pp. ISBN 981-00-9904-5.
• National Parks Board (NParks). Marine Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/marine-fishes.