They are commonly 60 cm (24 in) in length and can grow up to 2 m (6.6 ft), weighing 2.51 kg (5.5 lb).

[2][3] They inhabit the Western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Spotted morays are solitary animals, and usually hide in narrow crevices and holes in reef structures with only their heads peeking out.

They are active during the day, feeding on crustaceans, molluscs[4] and fish at or near the sea bottom.

[5][6] There is a minor fishery for spotted eels, and they are also kept in aquariums until their size makes it impractical to do so.