Marine Life

Honeycomb grouper

Lah faana

Epinephelus merra

Epinephelus merra is the most common grouper on protected shallow lagoon reefs, and is one of the nine species of "reticulated groupers", which are characterized by a rounded caudal fin and a close-set pattern of dark brown spots with pale interspaces forming a network on the body. E. merra can be distinguished from other species by its pectoral fin pattern.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 32 cm
color: Body, head and all fins with dark brown spots, with narrow pale inter-space. Dots on fins and lower sides of body more widely spread. Pectoral fin covered with small black spots that are largely confined to the rays; outer half of the fin dark.
order: Perciformes
family: Serranidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/epinephelus-merra.png
habitat and biology: Species of shallow water coral typically found on patch reefs in lagoons, usually at depths of less than 20 m, feed mainly on crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps, but also on fish.
distinctive characters: This fish has a dorsal fin with 11 spines and 15-17 rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays, and a pectoral fin with 16-18 rays. Its body is oblong and somewhat compressed, with a depth of 2.8-3.3 in standard length. The maxillary extends behind the hind border of the eye, and the pectoral fin is shorter than the head. Additionally, the first dorsal spine is shorter than the others, and the dorsal rays are longer than the dorsal spines. Lastly, the caudal fin is rounded.