Blacksaddled coralgrouper
Plectropomus laevis
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Blacksaddled coralgrouper
- Scientific
- Plectropomus laevis
- Dhivehi
- ކަނޑު ރަސްގެފާނުThilaakolhu faana
- Maximum size
- Up to about 1.2 m (total length); commonly 84 cm; max. published weight 24.2 kg
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 4 to 100 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2016
Description
A large coral grouper with two colour forms: one white with four black saddles and yellow fins, the other darker brown with blue spots. It is a voracious hunter of large reef fish, including other groupers, which is why big individuals can carry high levels of ciguatera toxin. It is most often found in channels and outer reefs.
In the Maldives
FishBase (Maldives) gives thilaakolhu faana; a Dhivehi Wikipedia article not derived from MRS gives kandu rasgefaanu. Flagged as a conflict.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Plectropomus-laevis.html
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=7372&GenusName=Plectropomus&SpeciesNa
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ކަނޑު_ރަސްގެފާނު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Plectropomus_laevis.jpg
Dhivehi name source: FishBase common names (country: Maldives) give 'Thilaakolhu faana' (Latin script). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ކަނޑު ރަސްގެފާނު' (not in the MRS-derived list); it does NOT match the Latin form. FLAG: sources disagree; needs a Dhivehi speaker.