Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 0.

A slender, medium sized moray with small eyes, a short rounded snout and short tubes for front and rear nostrils. Mouth long. Teeth slender, sharp,
2 rows on jaws, at least anteriorly. Teeth in front of upper jaw and in inner series larger. Tail very short, with blunt, skin-covered tip. Dorsal and anal
fins greatly reduced and only visible near tip of tail.

Colour: Yellow to orange-brown body with dark blotches (yellow-edged) and spots of varying sizes becoming smaller on the head. Front of head, snout & 
jaws with dense small dark spots and dot. Nostrils dark.

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 140 cm TL.

Inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs (depth 8-25m). Associated with sandy areas of rocky and coral reefs. Secretive. Nocturnal. Feeds on small fishes and 
crustaceans.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. If subject to the artisanal fishery, it is a very rare component of the catch.

Photographed Baie Ternay, Mahe. 

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2023). FishBase. Scuticaria tigrina. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/7450 (11/10/23). 
Mason-Parker, C. et al. (2021). Scuticaria tigrina in Reef Fishes of Seychelles. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd, UK.
Smith, D.G. et al. (2019). Scuticaria tigrina. The IUCN Red List 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T195816A2422080.en. (11/10/23).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Smith, J.L.B. & Smith, M.M. (1963). The Fishes of Seychelles. Department of Ichthyology. Rhodes University. Grahamstown. 
STRI (2015). Scuticaria tigrina, Tiger reef-eel. https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/sftep/en/thefishes/species/316 (11/10/23). 

Mason-Parker, C. & Nevill, J.E.G. (2023). Scuticaria tigrina, Tiger moray. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/scuticaria-tigrina-lesson-1828/