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

}}

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}}. Its length is 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. Though it is not considered endangered, the species is particularly under-studied and estimated to be undercounted by up to 400% in single-pass visual surveys.{{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}}

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}}