Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Muraenidae
- Genus
- Gymnothorax
- Species
- undulatus
Habitat
This species inhabits coral reefs, rocky crevices, and lagoons in warm tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, often at depths from 1 to 50 meters. It prefers areas with abundant hiding spots to avoid predators and ambush prey, commonly found around the Hawaiian Islands, Red Sea, and Great Barrier Reef.
Diet
The undulated moray primarily feeds on small fish, crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, and occasionally cephalopods such as octopuses. It is a nocturnal hunter that ambushes prey from hiding spots in reefs, using its strong jaws to capture and swallow food whole.
Behavior
Undulated morays are solitary and territorial, spending most of the day hidden in coral crevices and becoming active at night to hunt. They exhibit aggressive behavior when threatened, often displaying an open-mouth threat to ward off intruders, and they are generally reclusive but can be curious around divers.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.