Redmouth grouper
Aethaloperca rogaa
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Redmouth grouper
- Scientific
- Aethaloperca rogaa
- Dhivehi
- ގިނިމަސް ފާނަGinimas faana
- Maximum size
- Up to about 60 cm (total length)
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 3 to 60 m (usually 3 to 60 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2016
Description
A deep-bodied, dark brown to almost black grouper with a steep head profile and a reddish-orange inside to the mouth that shows when it opens its jaws. The soft dorsal and anal fins are angular in adults, giving the fish a squared-off rear outline. It lives around caves and overhangs on lagoon and outer reefs and hunts small fish, especially sweepers, in the shade. Small juveniles mimic a dark dwarf angelfish.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name ginimas faana (MRS 1997). Often seen hanging in the mouths of caves on Maldivian channel and outer reefs.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Aethaloperca-rogaa.html
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=6441&GenusName=Aethaloperca&SpeciesNa
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ގިނިމަސް_ފާނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Redmouth_grouper_-_Aethaloperca_rogaa.jpg
Dhivehi name source: FishBase common names (country: Maldives) give 'Ginimas faana' (Latin script). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ގިނިމަސް ފާނަ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Kalugini' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.