{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic_taxobox | fossil_range = {{fossilrange|11.3|0|Late Miocene to Present<ref>{{cite journal | last = Sepkoski | first = Jack | title = A compendium of fossil marine animal genera | journal = Bulletins of American Paleontology | volume = 364 | issue = |page=560 | year = 2002 | url = http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class | doi = | id = | accessdate = 2008-01-08 }}</ref>}} | image =EL32p.jpg | image_caption = Muraena helena | taxon = Muraena | authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | type_species=''Muraena helena''<ref>{{cite journal |author1=ICZN |title=Opinion 1672. ''Muraena'' Linnaeus, 1758 and ''Anguilla'' Schrank, 1798 (Osteichthyes, Anguilliformes): placed on the Official List of Generic Names |journal=The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature |date=1992 |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=92–93 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12231152}}</ref> | type_species_authority=Linnaeus, 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }}
'''''Muraena''''' is a genus of nine valid species of large eels in the family Muraenidae.
This genus is common in the Mediterranean, and is abundantly represented in tropical and subtropical seas, especially in rocky parts or on coral reefs. In the majority, a long fin runs from the head along the back, round the tail to the vent, but all are destitute of pectoral and ventral fins. The skin is scaleless and smooth, in many species ornamented with varied and bright colours.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911 |wstitle=Muraena |volume=17 |pages=15–16 |inline=1}}</ref>
thumb|left|250px|''Muraena helena''The mouth is wide, the jaws strong and armed with formidable, generally sharply pointed, teeth, which enable the ''Muraena'' not only to seize its prey (which chiefly consists of other fishes) but also to inflict serious, and sometimes dangerous, wounds on its enemies. It attacks persons who approach its places of concealment in shallow water, and is feared by fishermen.<ref name=EB1911/> At least one species, ''Muraena retifera'', possesses an additional "raptorial pharyngeal jaw" within the pharynx, which is mobile and can be thrust forwards quickly to assist in grasping prey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/for-moray-eels-two-jaws-better-than-one/2007/09/06/1188783398918.html|title=For moray eels, two jaws better than one - Environment - smh.com.au|date=6 September 2007 |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>
Some of the tropical ''Muraena'' species exceed a length of {{convert|5|ft|cm}}, but most of the species, among them the Mediterranean moray, are somewhat smaller. The latter, the "murena" of the Italians and the ''Muraena helena'' of ichthyologists, was considered by the ancient Romans to be one of the greatest delicacies, and was kept in large ponds and aquaria. It is native to the coasts of southern Europe, North Africa, and Macaronesia, but has also been introduced to the Red Sea.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=David G. |last2=Bogorodsky |first2=Sergey V. |last3=Mal |first3=Ahmad O. |last4=Alpermann |first4=Tilman J. |date=2019-12-05 |title=Review of the moray eels (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) of the Red Sea, with description of a new species |url=https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4704.1.1 |journal=Zootaxa |language=en |volume=4704 |issue=1 |pages=1–87 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4704.1.1 |issn=1175-5334}}</ref> Records of it from Australia are likely erroneous.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Böhlke |first=E. B. |last2=McCosker |first2=J. E. |date=2001-05-09 |title=The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) |url=https://journals.australian.museum/bhlke-and-mccosker-2001-rec-aust-mus-531-71102/ |journal=Records of the Australian Museum |language=en |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=71–102 |doi=10.3853/j.0067-1975.53.2001.1325 |issn=0067-1975}}</ref>
==Species== * ''Muraena appendiculata'' <small>(Guichenot, 1848)</small> ''incertae sedis'' * ''Muraena argus'' <small>(Steindachner, 1870)</small> (White-spotted moray) * ''Muraena augusti'' <small>(Kaup, 1856)</small> * ''Muraena clepsydra'' <small>C. H. Gilbert, 1898</small> (Hourglass moray) * ''Muraena helena'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small> (Mediterranean moray) * ''Muraena lentiginosa'' <small>Jenyns, 1842</small> (Jewel moray) * ''Muraena melanotis'' <small>(Kaup, 1860)</small> (Honeycomb moray) * ''Muraena pavonina'' <small>J. Richardson, 1845</small> (Whitespot moray) * ''Muraena retifera'' <small>Goode & T. H. Bean, 1882</small> (Reticulate moray) * ''Muraena robusta'' <small>Osório, 1911</small> (Stout moray) A single fossil species, †''Muraena saheliensis'' <small>Arambourg, 1928</small> is known from the latest Miocene (Messinian) of Algeria.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gaudant |first=Jean |date=2008 |title=Paléobiodiversité et paléoenvironnements: l'exemple des gisements de poissons téléostéens du Messinien préévaporitique d'Oran et du bassin du Chélif (Algérie) |url=https://sciencepress.mnhn.fr/en/periodiques/geodiversitas/30/1/paleobiodiversite-et-paleoenvironnements-l-exemple-des-gisements-de-poissons-teleosteens-du-messinien-preevaporitique-d-oran-et-du-bassin-du-chelif-algerie |journal=Geodiversitas |language=en |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=141–163}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Zoological_Record/MVVQAQAAIAAJ? |title=Zoological Record |date=1928 |publisher=J.V. Voorst |language=en}}</ref>
==Formerly Included Species== * ''Muraena anguilla'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small> (European eel) - valid as ''Anguilla anguilla'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small>
==References== {{Reflist}} * {{Cof genus | genus = Muraena | access-date = 27 February 2026}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q283352}}
Category:Muraena Category:Muraenidae Category:Extant Miocene first appearances Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus