Snowflake Moray

Familia: MorenasMuraenidae)
Tamaño: Up to 100 cm (39 in)
Profundidad: 1 – 30 m (3 – 100 pies)

Distribución: Widespread Indo-Pacific and Eastern Tropical Pacific (including the Chocó coast and Colombia).

Identificación: A beautifully patterned moray built for hunting crustaceans.

• The "Snowflakes": The body has a pale white or yellowish base, heavily decorated with large, star-like black and brown blotches that resemble snowflakes.
• Blunt Snout: Unlike fish-eating morays with pointed snouts and needle-like teeth, the Snowflake Moray has a blunt, rounded snout with pebble-like teeth designed for crushing hard shells.
• Yellow Accents: Look for striking yellow markings around their eyes and prominent nostrils.

Comportamiento: Nocturnal crustacean hunters of the shallow reefs.

• Reef Dwellers: They are extremely common in shallow rocky reefs and rubble areas along the Pacific coast. During the day, they hide deep inside crevices with only their heads protruding.
• Mouth Breathing: Divers frequently spot them rhythmically opening and closing their mouths. This is not a threat, but simply how they pump water over their gills to breathe.