Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 132-137.

Elongate body. Short rounded snout. Lower jaw slightly shorter than upper. Vertical fins unclear and hidden below the tough wrinkled skin. Anus well behind mid-point of body. Teeth molariform in 2-3 rows on jaws, 5-6 on palate.

Colour. Brown to blackish body, encircled with 43-76 creamy-white narrow rings. Some rings incomplete.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 150cm TL, commonly to 50cm TL.

A secretive inhabitant of sandy and rocky bottoms, crevices and ledges of seaward reefs (depth 1-50m, usually less than 4m). Benthic. Feeds primarily on xanthid crabs, but also on other crustaceans, molluscs and sea urchins.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It does not appear to be subject to the artisanal fishery.

Photo courtesy of Krishna Ashok. 

Anam, R. & Mostarda, E. (2012). FIELD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE TO THE LIVING MARINE RESOURCES OF KENYA. UNFAO Rome, 2012. ISBN 978-92-5-107239-4

Chen, H-M. et al (1994). A Review of the Muraenid Eels (Family Muraenidae) from Taiwan with Descriptions of Twelve New Records. Zoological Studies 33(1) 44-64 (1994).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2019. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.in/summary/Gymnomuraena-zebra (27/04/20).

Smith, D.G. et al (2019). Gymnomuraena zebra. The IUCN Red List 2019: e.T195700A2404907. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T195700A2404907.en. (27/04/20).