Spotted Eel

Yellowish to russet brown, with yellow-edged black spots (Ref. 3257). Rounded snout and jaw speckled with black (Ref. 3257, 48635). Greatly reduced fin (Ref. 37816).Description: Characterized by body depth at gill opening 24-34 in TL; anus well posterior, tail less than one-third TL; small sharp teeth in outer row of jaw; five rows of teeth across front of upper jaw, three middle rows each with three canines; inner row of 4-9 canines at side of upper jaw; inner row of front of lower jaw with 3-8 canines on each side (Ref. 90102).

Vertebrae: 166 - 174

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Found on sand and between rocks (Ref. 9324). Extremely secretive. Usually only seen at night (Ref. 48635). Benthic (Ref. 58302).

aquarium: commercial

分布於印度-泛太平洋區，西起東非，東至墨西哥、哥斯大黎加及馬拿馬，北至臺灣，南至澳洲大堡礁等海域。臺灣分布於南部海域。

數量稀少，不宜多作利用。或可供大型水族館教育展示用。

尾長僅為魚體全長的三分之一。頜部較短且圓鈍。鰓孔前上方的鰓位側線孔1個。齒細長而尖，頜齒兩列；鋤骨齒單列。脊椎骨數116。身體底色為橙黃色；周身遍佈許多具有黃色邊緣的黑褐色斑塊；吻和頜部具有黑色小斑點。前、後鼻管長度相近，呈白色。部份大型個體後鼻管膨大如囊狀。以前所記載之虎斑鰭尾鯙(/Uropterygius tigrinus /)為本種之異名。

多半發現自珊瑚礁湖淺海域，甚至是僅僅2-4公尺深的珊瑚洞穴，亦出現於礁砂交錯區。相當罕見，且生性好隱藏，一般僅能在礁穴深處見到其外露的頭部。以魚類為食。

Scuticaria tigrina is a moray eel found in coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is commonly known as the tiger reef-eel, tiger snake moray, tiger moray eel, tiger moray, tiger eel, spotted eel, or the spotted snake moray.