Maldives Marine Life

Marine life of Maldivian waters

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One-blotch grouper
No photo available
Illustration
Illustration: Homefront / Abacus AI, © Homefront AuctionsOriginal illustration based on published descriptions

One-blotch grouper

Epinephelus melanostigma

Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).

English
One-blotch grouper
Scientific
Epinephelus melanostigma
Dhivehi
No recorded Dhivehi name
Group
Groupers and snappers
Family
Epinephelidae (groupers; formerly in Serranidae)
Maximum size
Up to about 55 cm (total length); commonly 25 cm; max. published weight 3.8 kg
Depth and habitat
Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 30 m
IUCN status
LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2018

Description

A small grouper covered with close-set, many-sided dark brown spots and a single black blotch at the middle of the dorsal-fin base, reaching about 55 cm. It lives on outer reef flats and in shallow lagoons.

Sources

Dhivehi name source: No Dhivehi name found in MRS 1997 (available chapters), FishBase (country: Maldives) or Dhivehi Wikipedia.