Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0; Vertebrae: 127-133.

Body moderately elongate, relatively slender, cylindrical in front, compressed along tail. Head with a steep profile. Snout fairly short and blunt. Eye relatively small. Anterior nostril with a short tube. Posterior nostril a simple hole with a raised rim. Teeth conical uniserial on jaws biserial and smaller on vomer; a single, median tooth at front of upper jaw. Dorsal fin originating on head just before gill opening. Pectoral and pelvic fins absent.

Colour. Greyish or whitish, with round hollow black spots (ocelli) about the body. Spots fewer and clearer when young but obscured by addition of many little dots in adults. Iris has black cross spots.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 140cm TL.

Adults inhabit reef flats and rocky intertidal shorelines (depth 1-100m). Feed on small fishes and crustaceans, sometimes leaves water in pursuit of prey. Benthic. Solitary.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It may be caught in the fish trap fishery or by spear, but if so it is a rare component of the catch.

Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984).  FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2020. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.in/summary/Gymnothorax-pictus (14/05/20).

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).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Seychelles Seatizens. Gymnothorax pictus. https://seatizens.sc/species/gymnothorax-pictus-ahl-1789/