Honeycomb grouper
Epinephelus merra
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Honeycomb grouper
- Scientific
- Epinephelus merra
- Dhivehi
- ލައް ފާނަLah faana
- Maximum size
- Up to about 36 cm (total length); max. published weight 1 kg
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 50 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2017
Description
A small, pale grouper covered in close-set brown spots that leave only a fine pale network between them, like a honeycomb. It is very common on shallow lagoon reefs and reef flats, usually in less than 20 m, and young fish shelter among branching staghorn coral. It eats crustaceans and, as it grows, more fish.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name lah faana (MRS 1997). One of the commonest small groupers on Maldivian house reefs.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Epinephelus-merra.html
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ލައް_ފާނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Epinephelus_merra_JNC1499.JPG
Dhivehi name source: Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ލައް ފާނަ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition). No published Latin-script form found; 'Lah faana' is Pax's transliteration of the Thaana (Malé Latin conventions). FishBase also lists 'Sikkisikkifana' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. FLAG: Latin form is a transliteration, not a published spelling.