Hardtail Moray Eel, Minute Moray Eel
Morena Cola Dura
(Anarchias galapagensis)

Hardtail Moray Eel, Anarchias galapagensis: The Hardtail Moray Eel has an overall brown color with star shaped white blotches, and the tip of the tail is white in adults.

This fish species has an “earthworm-like" appearance, with the anal and dorsal fins being of minimal size and only developed as skin covered ridges near the tip of the tail. The tip of the tail is hard and pointed. The tail length is 56.5 percent of the total length. The rear nostril above the eye is closely associated with a large pore giving the appearance of a double nostril opening.

The Hardtail Moray Eel is found in the first 75 feet of the water column in an around rocky areas and can reach a maximum length of 6.5 inches. It cannot be readily confused with any other species.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

In Mexican fishing waters the Hardtail Moray Eel is limited to the eastern side of the Baja California peninsula from Loreto to Cabo San Lucas and along the coastal mainland south of Acapulco to Guatemala.

The gill slit openings are small and at about mid-flank. The tails are longer than the head. The anal and dorsal fins are continuous with the caudal fin and present as skin-covered folds at the rear of the tail and they have no pectoral fins. There are eight species known globally of which only one resides in Mexican waters. They are night feeders dining on small fishes and invertebrates including crabs, octopuses and shrimp.

The Hardtail Moray Eel is a member of the Muraenidae Family which in Mexico are known as morenas.

Hardtail Moray Eel fish picture 1

Hardtail Moray Eel fish picture 2

Hardtail Moray Eel, Anarchias galapagensis: A rare catch, made while fishing with Capt. Pata in the panga Salomé, in 86-degree, 200-foot deep water, in August 2008, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Provided in a pristine condition via regurgitatation by a Flag Cabrilla. Size 5 inches. This fish is reported to reside only at depths of less than 75 feet. Identification courtesy of Dr. Richard Rosenblatt, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Description and photos courtesy of John Snow.

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