lowfin moray
Gymnothorax porphyreus
South Pacific moray, with a pale yellow background and dark brown blotches, living down to 40 m. It appears along the coasts of Chile, Ecuador and Peru.
Also called: moreia-de-nadadeira-baixa, morena, lowfin moray
- maximum
- 103 cm
- depth
- 1–40 m
who is the lowfin moray
The lowfin moray belongs to the family Muraenidae and reaches 103 cm. It has an eel-like body, with irregular dark brown blotches on a pale yellow background. It lives near the bottom, from 1 to 40 m, in subtropical waters of the South Pacific, from Lord Howe Island, Australia, to South America. In Latin America it occurs in Chile, Ecuador and Peru. It is commercially fished. Like other morays, it usually hides in crevices and bites when handled.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the lowfin moray; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Moray with an elongated body that is oval in cross section, with a pale yellow background covered by irregular dark brown blotches. The pattern of blotches on a light background is its most visible trait. It has a low fin, as one of its common names suggests. It lives near the bottom, in shallow coastal waters, from 1 to 40 m.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Occurs in the South Pacific of Latin America, in Chile, Ecuador and Peru, in shallow subtropical waters from 1 to 40 m.
Habitat: Near the bottom, in shallow subtropical coastal waters, from 1 to 40 m.
rules for the lowfin moray
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It poses no danger to anglers, but morays bite when handled. Release it with pliers and without putting your hand near its mouth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0006, b = 3.28; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
—
sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Gymnothorax porphyreus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Gymnothorax porphyreusNames by country and language.
