Research Article

New record of a rare moray eel, Enchelycore kamara Böhlke & Böhlke, 1980 (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae), from the Philippines

Authors:
Wen-Chien Huang^{1, ,} and Rodulf Anthony T. Balisco^1,2,
1Department of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
²College of Fisheries and Natural Sciences, Western Philippines University, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

ABSTRACT

A single specimen (957 mm total length) of the rare moray eel Enchelycore kamara Böhlke & Böhlke, 1980, was collected from the Puerto Princesa New Public Market, Palawan, Philippines, representing the largest recorded size for the species and its first record in Philippine waters. A brief description, fresh photographs, and a COI sequence were provided for this specimen. The distribution range of E. kamara was also updated based on additional specimens, sequences, and underwater photographs obtained from online public sources.

Keywords: DNA barcoding, maximum size, Muraeninae, Pacific Ocean, taxonomy

^{Available Online: 08 September 2025}

How to Cite:
Huang WC and Balisco RAT. 2025. New record of a rare moray eel, Enchelycore kamara Böhlke & Böhlke, 1980 (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae), from the Philippines. The Palawan Scientist, 17(2): 71-78. https://doi.org/10.69721/TPS.J.2025.17.2.08

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