Snowflake Moray

Echidna nebulosa

Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa) is a reef-dwelling moray eel of the Indo-Pacific and aquarium trade, often seen peering from crevices by day. It has blunt molar-like teeth for crushing crustaceans, so it is not a typical sport fish.

Saltwater

Snowflake Moray reference image — Diego Delso, cc-by-sa, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Creamy white body covered in dense black and yellow oval spots and bars that look snowflake-like
Blunt, rounded head with a short snout and thick moray body
No pectoral fins and a continuous dorsal fin running from head to tail

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs, rubble slopes, lagoon patch reefs, and tidepool-like reef crevices; usually hidden in holes during daylight and foraging at night.

Bait notes

Rarely targeted by anglers; when caught incidentally, it may take cut squid, shrimp, or small crustacean baits. Small baited traps or rock crevice presentations are more realistic than lures.

Behavior

Nocturnal ambush predator that hunts crabs, shrimps, and other hard-shelled prey. It stays deep in holes with only the head exposed and can bite if handled or cornered.

Caution

Can inflict a painful bite with crushing jaws and sharp teeth; do not hand-feed or reach into holes. Reef habitat may carry standard ciguatera risk for local food-web predators, so consumption is generally not advised unless locally vetted.

Fishing notes

Best treated as a non-game species; if targeting for observation or study, use cautious hands-off methods around reef holes. Avoid probing crevices with bare hands, and release quickly if accidentally hooked.