Need a spotted eel ID please......

[diver 85]

What kind is this???--shot off Cozumel......TIA

 

[diver 85]

could it be a fimbriated??......

 

[Papa_Bear]

Maybe a variation of a Echidna nebulosa? If I can find a picture I will post it!

OR
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Echidna_nebulosa_in_kona.jpg

 

[redacted]

Likely a slight color variation of the common spotted eel.

 

[Papa_Bear]

It has the head and eye of a Golden! But the pattern is very lose! You could be right!

 

[diver 85]

To all , a common spotted eel-- just a nontypical color pattern???---btw, looks like the 'body' of an everyday spotted one to me...tia

 

[donnyb]

I agree with Papa Bear, my gut says Goldentail, Gymnothorax miliaris.
The head & eye are an exact match, and we can't see the tail. Blotches on the body are not that unusual on a lot of moray individuals.

Humann's description:
Tip of tail yellow to gold. Ring of yellow around pupil.
Shades of brown covered with small yellow spots (size of spots can vary considerably between individuals, and, on rare occasions, are reversed, with yellow undercolor and brown spots, or a net-like pattern).

couple of photos on the web to compare to:
Gymnothorax miliaris
Yellow Canary Moray Eel, Golden Moray Eel - Gymnothorax miliaris

 

[diver 85]

Thanks again to all------I'm gunna go with the goldentail...looks like a pretty good match....

 

[Sully3]

its a goldentail. those black blotches are weird, but its still a goldentail

 

[diver 85]

its a goldentail. those black blotches are weird, but its still a goldentail

thanks sully---just one of God's beautiful (& weird--lol) creations......