Marine Life

Netfin grouper, Honeyfin grouper

Kurehi faana

Epinephelus miliaris

Epinephelus miliaris has a wide distributional range, but is known from relatively few localities. This report is based on the first record of the species from the Maldives, which was caught by longline (at a depth of 200 m) outside Hulhule during fishing trials conducted by R. V. “Farumas” for the Reef Fishing Project.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 53 cm
color: Brownish or reddish brown. Body and spiny dorsal with numerous small, polygonal brown spots separated by network of pale lines. Darker bands visible on sides. Fins with large dark spots.
order: Perciformes
family: Serranidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/epinephelus-miliaris.png
habitat and biology: Adults of this species are found on coral reefs at depths of 18 to 180 meters. Juveniles are found on muddy bottoms, seagrass beds, and coral reefs at depths of up to 16 meters. They feed on crustaceans, gastropods, and fish.
distinctive characters: This fish has a dorsal fin with 11 spines and 16-17 rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays, a pectoral fin with 17-18 rays, a body depth of 2.8-3.2 in standard length, a maxillary that reaches a vertical at the rear edge of the orbit, a finely serrated preopercle, sides of the lower jaw with two rows of teeth, and the third or fourth dorsal spine is the longest, longer than the longest dorsal soft ray. Its caudal fin is rounded.