Brownspotted grouper
Epinephelus chlorostigma
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Brownspotted grouper
- Scientific
- Epinephelus chlorostigma
- Dhivehi
- ކުޅަދުރު ފާނަKulhadhuru faana
- Maximum size
- Up to about 80 cm (total length); commonly 50 cm; max. published weight 7 kg
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 4 to 300 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2023
Description
A whitish grouper densely covered in small dark brown spots, reaching about 80 cm; it can temporarily show rows of much larger dark spots over the fine pattern. It occurs from seagrass beds to outer reef slopes and mud bottoms, feeding on fish and crustaceans. Some females change into males at 35 to 45 cm.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name kulhadhuru faana (MRS 1997). Taken in the Maldivian reef-fish fishery.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Epinephelus-chlorostigma.html
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ކުޅަދުރު_ފާނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Epinephelus_chlorostigma_2.JPG
Dhivehi name source: Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ކުޅަދުރު ފާނަ' (not in the MRS-derived list). No published Latin-script form found; 'Kulhadhuru faana' is Pax's transliteration of the Thaana (Malé Latin conventions). FLAG: Latin form is a transliteration, not a published spelling. FLAG: single source.