Blackfin grouper
Cephalopholis nigripinnis
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Blackfin grouper
- Scientific
- Cephalopholis nigripinnis
- Dhivehi
- ކަންފަތްކަޅު ފާނަKanfaiykalhu faana
- Maximum size
- Up to about 28 cm (total length)
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 60 m (usually 0 to 15 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2018
Description
A small grouper, red at the front grading to dark brown towards the tail, with a dark 'ear' spot on the rear edge of the gill cover and dark fins. It lives in coral-rich areas, usually shallower than 15 m, and feeds on small fish and crustaceans. It is an Indian Ocean species, closely related to the Pacific darkfin hind.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name kanfaiykalhu faana (MRS 1997). Common on shallow Maldivian reefs.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Cephalopholis-nigripinnis.html
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ކަންފަތްކަޅު_ފާނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Cephalopholis_nigripinnis.jpg
Dhivehi name source: Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ކަންފަތްކަޅު ފާނަ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition). No published Latin-script form found; 'Kanfaiykalhu faana' is Pax's transliteration of the Thaana (Malé Latin conventions). FLAG: Latin form is a transliteration, not a published spelling.