Species Gymnothorax isingteena (Richardson, 1845)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Muraena isingteena Richardson, 1845.

  Type data:

   Status unknown, BMNH 2008.4.9.3 skin, China seas; Canton, China
  Comment: lectotype designation by Böhlke & Smith (2002) regarded as invalid, see Smith (2012).
• Muraena melanospilos Bleeker, P. 1855. Nalezingen op de vischfauna van Sumatra. Visschen van Lahat en Sibogha. Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indië 9: 257-280 [279].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1867.11.28.239, Sibogha, western Sumatra, Indonesia.

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Böhlke, E.B. & McCosker, J.E. 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Records of the Australian Museum 53: 71-102 figs 1-10 [98]

 

Generic Combinations

• Gymnothorax isingteena (Richardson, 1845). —
  Smith, D.G. 2012. A checklist of the moray eels of the world (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Zootaxa 3474: 1-64 [17] (changed combination cited)
• Gymnothorax isingteena (Richardson, 1845). —
  Bleeker, P. 1864. Atlas Ichthyologique des Indes Orientales Néerlandaises, publié sous les auspices du Gouvernement colonial néerlandais. Tome 4. Murènes, Symbranches, Leptocéphales. Amsterdam : Fréd. Müller 132 pp. pls 145-193. [92] (changed combination cited)

 

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Gymnothorax melanospilos Bleeker, 1855. —
  Russell, B.C. 1983. Annotated checklist of the coral reef fishes in the Capricorn-Bunker group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Special Publication Series 1: 1-184 figs 1-2 [20] (a misidentification; although G. isingteena was recently confirmed from One Tree Island the voucher specimen for the record in Russell (1983) is a misidentification of G. fimbriatus)

 

Introduction

Often confused with G. favagineus and sometimes treated as a junior synonym of that species. However both are valid in Australia.

 

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Rowley Shoals (17º10'S, 119º20'E) and Scott Reef (14º12'S, 121º47'E), WA, and Adele Island, WA (15º32'S, 123º11) to New Year Island, NT (10º55'S, 133º01'E), Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, also One Tree Island (23º30'S, 152º05'E) and Wreck Reefs (22º12'S, 155º19'E) QLD, based on re-identified specimens in Australian museum collections, probably more widespread in Australia however confusion over identification of this species make exact distribution unclear; tropical, Indo-west Pacific.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Timor Province (2), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Transition (3), Northeast Shelf Province (40)

Other Regions

Coral Sea Islands Territory, Territory of Ashmore & Cartier Islands

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, coral reef.

Extra Ecological Information

Depth range: 3-30 m

 

General References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [86]

Smith, D.G. 2012. A checklist of the moray eels of the world (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Zootaxa 3474: 1-64 [17]

 

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [86] (Spotted Moray)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
	ELOPOMORPHA	06-Aug-2018	ADDED	Dr Doug Hoese (AM)