Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Muraeninae
Etymology: Echidna: Greek, echidna = viper, 1847 (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: In Greek mythology Echidna was a female monster, and mother of many other monsters including the Hydra. Hesiod described her as “half a nymph with glancing eyes and fair cheeks, and half again a huge snake, great and awful, with speckled skin.” (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Schultz.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 24 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 17°N - 24°S
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to Johnston Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 75.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1602)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 121 - 130. Plain brown in color, snout with white tip, jaw with irregular white patches; darker behind eye and corner of mouth (Ref. 3257). Stout conical teeth that tend to become pebble-like, more numerous, and closely-packed with age.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Occurs among rubble deposits on the lee side of shallow wave-washed reefs. Feeds on crustaceans (Ref. 9710, 58302; 89972). Benthic (Ref. 58302).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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