Argus Moray, Muraena argus
Argus Moray, Muraena argus. Fish caught from coastal waters off Point Palmilla, Baja California Sur, January 2010. Length 76 cm (30 inches). Tail: ~50%.
Argus Moray, Muraena argus. Underwater photographs taken in Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, January 2019. Photographs and identification courtesy of Maude Jette, Dive Zihuantanejo, www.Divezihuatanejo.com.
Argus Moray, Muraena argus. Underwater photograph taken in coastal waters off Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, May 2022. Photograph courtesy of Kevin Erwin, Seattle, Washington.
The Argus Moray, Muraena argus, is a member of the Moray and Snake Moray or Muraenidae Family, that is also known as the White-spotted Moray and in Mexico as morena argos. Globally, there are nine members in the genus Muraena, of which four are found in Mexican waters, one in the Atlantic and three in the Pacific Ocean.
The Argus Moray has a stout elongated muscular compressed body tapering gradually to a rounded tail. They are brown to green-brown in color with large and distinctive anal and dorsal fins that are continuous with the caudal fin and are covered in skin with white margins. They have a large and very prominent black spot covering the gill openings. They have 3 rows of large irregular white blotches along the sides of the body and a few white or yellow flecks on the rear half of the body and dorsal fin. The head has a moderately-sized conical snout, golden eyes with dark pupils, and a large mouth equipped with slender conical teeth. The dorsal fin originates in front of the gill openings; the tail is about half the total length; and, they do not have pectoral or pelvic fins, gill covers or scales.
The Argus Moray is found around rocky reefs at depths up to 120 m (395 feet). They reach a maximum of 1.2 m (3 feet 11 inches) in length. As of January 1, 2023, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 0.68 kg (1 lb 8 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off San Carlos, Baja California Sur, in March 2017. They are night predators, consuming small fish and invertebrates including crab, octopus, and shrimp. They are found in water temperatures between 20oC (68oF) and 28oC (82oF). Reproduction is viviparous with eggs and sperm broadcast into the water generating pelagic eggs and larvae that drift in oceanic currents before settling out on the bottom.
The Argus Moray is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Pacific with the exception of the extreme northern portion of the Sea of Cortez.
The Argus Moray can be confused with the Hourglass Moray, Muraena clepsydra (white spot preceding black spot at corner of mouth; black spot with white margin on gill cover).
From a conservation perspective the Argus Moray is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are very seldom, seen by humans. When encountered they are visually most intimidating but are very timid and not harmful and are only known to bite humans on rare occasions. They are caught on occasion by recreational anglers out of heavy rock structure and are normally a “catch and release”.