Marine Life

Greasy grouper

Londhi faana

Epinephelus tauvina

Epinephelus tauvina, despite its unappetizing English name, is a prime food fish and is the subject of intensive cage culture in some countries; it can be easily distinguished from similar species by its shape, pattern of spotting, and very long maxilla.

Details

§ 01

size: Common to 45 cm; max. 75 cm
color: Brown-grey with many orange brown spots covering body and fins. Dark blotch may be present at base of last dorsal spine.
order: Perciformes
family: Serranidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/epinephelus-tauvina.png
habitat and biology: This species is mainly found on coral reefs, ranging from depths of 1 to 50 meters. Young individuals can be seen in tide pools on the reef flat, and they feed mainly on fish.
distinctive characters: This fish has a dorsal fin with 11 spines and 13-16 rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays, a pectoral fin with 18-19 rays, a body depth of 3.0-3.6 in standard length, a maxilla that reaches well past the eye, 3 or 4 rows of teeth on the mid-lateral part of the lower jaw, and a rounded caudal fin with cycloid body scales, except for a small patch at the end of the pectoral fin.