Humpnose big-eye bream
Monotaxis grandoculis
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Humpnose big-eye bream
- Scientific
- Monotaxis grandoculis
- Dhivehi
- ދޮނގުDhongu
- Group
- Reef fish
- Family
- Lethrinidae (emperors)
- Maximum size
- Up to about 60 cm (total length); commonly 40 cm; max. published weight 5.9 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives common to 40 cm; max. 60 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 0 to 100 m (usually 5 to 30 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2015
Description
A bream with a steep, rounded forehead, very large eyes and a forked tail; adults are bluish grey to silvery, and juveniles are white with three bold dark saddles. Adults rest in groups near coral by day and feed at night on snails, brittle stars, sea urchins and crabs crushed with molar-like teeth. It can switch quickly between a dark and a pale silvery colour.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name dhongu (MRS 1997). MRS notes that the two colour forms once led to speculation that two species were involved.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Monotaxis-grandoculis.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=1869&GenusName=Monotaxis&SpeciesName=
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ދޮނގު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Emperador_jorobado_(Monotaxis_grandoculis),_parque_nacional
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Dhongu' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) agrees: 'Dhongu'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ދޮނގު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Dathi' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.