Whitespotted grouper
Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Whitespotted grouper
- Scientific
- Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus
- Dhivehi
- ހުދުލައް ފާނަKalhu faana
- Maximum size
- Up to about 76 cm (total length)
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 2 to 65 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2016
Description
A dark greyish-brown grouper covered with many small pale spots and larger pale blotches, reaching about 76 cm. It lives in rocky or coral-rich parts of deep lagoons, channels and outer slopes, usually near caves, and feeds on fish and crustaceans.
In the Maldives
FishBase (Maldives) gives kalhu faana; a non-MRS Dhivehi Wikipedia article gives hudhulah faana. Flagged as a conflict.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Epinephelus-coeruleopunctatus.html
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=6440&GenusName=Epinephelus&SpeciesNam
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ހުދުލައް_ފާނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Epinephelus_coeruleopunctatus_New_Caledonia.JPG
Dhivehi name source: FishBase common names (country: Maldives) give 'Kalhu faana' (Latin script). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ހުދުލައް ފާނަ' (not in the MRS-derived list); it does NOT match the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Fana' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. FLAG: sources disagree; needs a Dhivehi speaker.