Maldives Marine Life

Marine life of Maldivian waters

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

Dot-dash grouper

Epinephelus poecilonotus

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

English
Dot-dash grouper
Scientific
Epinephelus poecilonotus
Dhivehi
No recorded Dhivehi name
Group
Groupers and snappers
Family
Epinephelidae (groupers; formerly in Serranidae)
Maximum size
Up to about 65 cm (total length); max. published weight 4 kg
Depth and habitat
Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 45 to 375 m; also enters brackish water
IUCN status
LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2016

Description

A deep-water grouper patterned with broad dark brown bands and a large oval black blotch on the spiny dorsal fin in juveniles, reaching about 65 cm. It lives on reefs from about 45 to 375 m.

Sources

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