Green moray

{{short description|Species of eel}}

{{Speciesbox

| name =

| image = GreenMorayEel.JPG

| image_caption = At the ABQ BioPark Aquarium

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Smith, D.G. |author2=McCosker, J. |year=2015 |title=Gymnothorax funebris |page=e.T195731A2409410 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T195731A2409410.en |access-date=11 November 2022}}

| range_map=

| range_map_caption=

| taxon = Gymnothorax funebris

| authority = Ranzani, 1840

}}

File:Green Moray, Florida Keys.jpg

The green moray (Gymnothorax funebris) is a moray eel of the family Muraenidae, found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Long Island, New York, Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, at depths down to {{convert|40|m|ft}}. With a length up to {{convert|2.5|m|ft}}, it is the largest moray species of the tropical Atlantic and one of the largest species of moray eel known.{{Cite book |last=Robins |first=C. Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetoatla00robi/mode/2up |title=A Field Guide To Atlantic Coast Fishes of North America |last2=Ray |first2=G. Carleton |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston |year=1986 |isbn=0395318521 |series=Peterson Field Guides}}

The common name "green moray" is also sometimes used to refer to the yellow moray, G. prasinus. Its green colour comes from a protective layer of mucus secreted by its specialized goblet cells much like other species of moray. Underneath this mucus layer, the green moray eel is a darker color as can be seen in preserved specimens.{{Cite web |date=2017-05-10 |title=Gymnothorax funebris |url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/gymnothorax-funebris/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Florida Museum |language=en-US}}

Green morays are typically not eaten and can cause ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP).{{Cite web |title=Gymnothorax funebris – Discover Fishes |url=https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/gymnothorax-funebris/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu}} Though the green moray is not considered endangered, moray eels in general are under-studied and often under-counted by traditional visual surveys.{{Cite journal |last=Kendall |first=Matthew S. |last2=Siceloff |first2=Laughlin |last3=Ruffo |first3=Ashley |last4=Winship |first4=Arliss |last5=Monaco |first5=Mark E. |date=2021-08-01 |title=Green morays (Gymnothorax funebris) have sedentary ways in mangrove bays, but also ontogenetic forays to reef enclaves |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01137-0 |journal=Environmental Biology of Fishes |language=en |volume=104 |issue=8 |pages=1–15 |doi=10.1007/s10641-021-01137-0 |issn=1573-5133|doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last1=Gilbert |first1=Marianne |last2=Rasmussen |first2=Joseph B. |last3=Kramer |first3=Donald L. |date=2005-08-01 |title=Estimating the density and biomass of moray eels (Muraenidae) using a modified visual census method for hole-dwelling reef fauna and will constrict there prey like snakes|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-005-2228-2 |journal=Environmental Biology of Fishes |language=en |volume=73 |issue=4 |pages=415–426 |doi=10.1007/s10641-005-2228-2 |bibcode=2005EnvBF..73..415G |issn=1573-5133|url-access=subscription }} The green moray is rated as Least Concern by the IUCN, with no notable threats beyond occasional capture for public aquaria.