WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
Oyama and colleagues documented 168 spawning events of Gymnothorax eurostus across two breeding seasons. Individuals spawned in pairs after sunset, often around new and full moons; both sexes used multiple mates, with male territory visits and occasional sneaking tactics.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Reef-edge habitats do more than support feeding fish; small spatial patches can anchor repeatable reproductive behavior. That offers testable questions for timing and siting coastal disturbance management.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
The detailed record covers one species at one study reef across two seasons, not all morays or all reefs.
SOURCE
Marine Biology — Oyama et al. (26 Oct 2026)
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