Bicolor False Moray

Chlopsis bicollaris

Moray Eels can grow very large. In fact, the largest of them, the Slender Moray, can reach up to 13ft long!

The Bicolor False Moray? Yeah... not so big. Males only reach about 8in, and females are even smaller. The smaller size is actually why False Morays are "False." They belong to a different family whose members resemble the "True" Morays, but get no where near the size.

Bicolor False Morays are predominantly a greyish-brown, with white on the underside (hence "bicolor.") They live in the coral reefs near the Galapagos Islands, an no where else!

Because of their small range, the IUCN lists the species are Near Threatened. They live in only ten specific reef areas, and though there is no bottom commercial fishing to disturb them, it is unsure what will happen to the population as a result of climate change or El Nino events.

IUCN Status : Near Threatened
Location : Galapagos Islands
Size : Body length up to 8in (20cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Actinopterygii -- Order : Anguilliformes
Family : Chlopsidae -- Genus : Chlopsis -- Species : C. bicollaris

Image : G.R. Allen

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