Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
( Pseudanthias squamipinnis )
You can find them at depths of about 35m most commonly in large groups around coral reefs.
The sea goldie can grow up to 15cm in length. A unique feature of this species is that the males and females exhibit different colours, the male being pinkish-purple in colour with an elongated fin on the top and a red patch on their side fins. The females of the species are orange-yellow in colour and have a violet streak below their eye.
They can be seen feeding on various planktonic matter.
Vardhan Patankar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Epinephelus fasciatus )
Found commonly at depths below 15 m, you can also find them in shallow waters and lagoons at the depths of 4 m.
Growing up to a maximum length of 40 cm, this species is pale reddish-orange in colour with 5 or 6 dark bands on the body. The tips of their fins on the top of their body are black and hence where they get their name from. The black on the tip is followed by white spots as well.
They mainly feed on crustaceans and smaller fish.
Vardhan Patankar
( Cephalopholis formosa )
Found at depths between 10-30 m in shallow waters near reefs.
The body is dark brown to yellowish in colour with thin blue tripes going across the body. They also have some blue spots on the lips, snout and on the head and chest. The bluelined hind can grow up to a maximum length of 34 cm.
They feed on small fish and crustaceans.
Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
( Cephalopholis miniata )
They can be found between the depths of 2-150 m, in areas where the reef is exposed, in small caves or crevices.
Growing up to a maximum length of 50 cm, the coral hind is orange-red to reddish brown in colour with several blue spots that cover the whole body from the head to the tail. They are usally seen in small groups of one male and several females, the male protects the group and is territorial.
They are predatory fish with their diet consisting of mainly small fish and sea goldies make up a large chunk of their diet.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Cephalopholis urodeta )
Occuring down to depths of 60 m, they are found in shallow waters in the outer areas of the reefs where the coral reef is healthy.
These species of grouper is redish brown in colour that gets darker from the center of the body towards the tail. They have two prominent white lines on their that are diagonal. They grow upto a total maximum length of 28 cm, making them quite small for a grouper. The males defend a territory of about 6 females.
They are usually feeding on small fish which make up majority of their diet. They are also seen feeding on crustaceans.
Phalguni Ranjan
Phalguni Ranjan
( Epinephelus spilotoceps )
Recorded most commonly at depths between 0-30 m in shallow reefs and in lagoons.
They have a pale colour throughout the body which is covered in many dark green to brown irregular shapes that have spaces between them hence, forming a pattern. On the top of their body, they have four dark spots or blotches three near the back of the body and one where the tail meets the rest of the body. The species is called the foursaddle grouper in reference to these four spots that appear on the top of the body like a laid saddle on a horse. They can grow up to a maximum length of 35 cm.
They eat small fish crustaceans and have also been recorded to feed on octopus.
Jonathan Emmett
Phalguni Ranjan
( Epinephelus merra )
The honeycomb grouper, a common grouper found in Indian waters most commonly sited at depths of about 20 m, in coastal and offshore reefs in shallow waters.
They have been recorded to grow up to 32 cm, they are light brown in colour and have small brown coloured spots that form a pattern and resemble the shape of a honeycomb, hence giving them their name. They have over lying irregular dark bands that go over the body, the spots that these dark bands go over cause the spots to be darker in colour.
They are known to feed on crustaceans and fish.
Vardhan Patankar
( Epinephelus quoyanus )
They are usually found in sandy areas near coral reefs at depths of 50 m or less. You are most likely to spot them sitting idol on the sea floor.
Growing up to a maximum length of 40 cm, they are whitish in colour on the head, body and fins while being marked with spots of irregular circles, these circles are coloured dark brown to black. On the head, the spots are closer together while on the body and towards the back end the spots are more widely spaced. They can sometimes be mistaken for the honeycomb grouper due to their similiar appearance
They are known to feed on worms, smaller fish and crustaceans.
Coastal Impact
( Epinephelus malabaricus )
Found in almost all marine habitats such as lagoons, mangroves, coral reefs and sandy areas these groupers can be found from depths of 2 - 150 m.
Reaching up to a length of about 234 cm, they have a light grey background colour with several dark brown spots placed randomly over the body. There are also a few brown stripes which vary in number between individuals.
They feed on fish, crustaceans and sometimes squid and octopus.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Cephalopholis argus )
They are usually found in exposed reefs at depths of about 40m, in warm shallow waters.
They can grow up to about 60 cm in length, they are completely dark brown in colour and the whole body is covered with blue spots. They are most often sitting near coral heads and hide into crevices when threatened. They are very territorial and males often get into disputes were they tend to change colour in an attempt to assert dominance. They are also known to cooperate with other predator species to hunt together!
They are known to feed on small fish and crustaceans.
Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
( Epinephelus leucogrammicus )
These groupers are spotted on coral reefs, reef slopes and lagoons at a maximum depth of about 50 m.
The slender grouper can grow up to about 65 centimeter, they are pale coloured with reddish-brown spots that are closer together and smaller towards the head and bigger and more widely spaced towards the back of the body. An interesting feature of this species is their mimicry of other fish such as wrasses which they use to trick prey and then hunt them.
Goatfish have been recorded to make a big part of their diet along with other small fish. They also feed on small invertebrates.
Vardhan Patankar
( Nemanthias dispar )
Found in shallow waters at depths between 1-18 m on the upper areas of coral reef slopes and areas where there is currents. You are likely to spot them in large aggregations.
The males and females of this species appear different, the males have a bright red fin on the top of the body with the fins at the lower end of their body highly extended. The females are more orange in colour with a yellow tail, they also have a pink line starting from the tip of their snout going downward and passing through the eye. They can grow up to a maximum length of about 9.5 cm.
They form large aggregations to feed on planktonic organisms that move through the current.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Epinephelus awoara )
Occurs over rocky areas and sandy areas of coral reefs at depths between 1-50 m.
The head of the yellow grouper displays a greyish-brown colour on the upper parts while fading into a yellow on the underside. They have four dark bands on the upper side of the body with one at the base of their tail as well. These species also have numerous yellow spots on the head and the body while the fins are covered with some grey-white spots. The fins of the species usually have a margin of yellow that stands out. These groupers can reach a maximum length of about 60 cm.
They feed on shrimp, crabs, squid and octopus.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Epinephelus fuscoguttatus )
Found in clear waters close to rich coral covered areas of coral reefs and lagoons as deep as 60 m.
A stocky fish reaching up to about 120 cm, the brown-marbled grouper has a big mouth and almost deviant appearance. They have a background colour that is pale-yellowish with dark brown-grey blotches irregularly places all over the body, you are also likely able to see smaller dark brown spots scattered all across the body as well. These species are known to be quite territorial and can live to about 40 years old!
They feed on fish, crabs, squid and octopus.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Epinephelus erythrurus )
Spotted in muddy and silty areas near mangroves and estuaries.
These groupers exhibit an olive green colour while some individuals can also show a reddish brown. To add to their usual background colour, irregular pale blotches and spots are visible on the body of the fish that create a web or pattern. The cloudy groupers also have three streaks that go over their gills and grow to attain a maximum length of about 33 cm.
They feed on small fish and crustaceans.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Cromileptes altivelis )
Inhabit clear waters in lagoons and seaward reefs in areas where this sand and rubble. You are likely to spot them near the surface of the water to depths of 40 m.
With a body attaining a maximum length of about 70 cm, these groupers due to their humpback body shape make them distinct from other groupers and perhaps fish also. When young, they display a white background with scattered small round black spots all over the body. As they age, they display darker greyish coloured blotches or areas over their white background in addition to their round black spots.
They feed on small fish and crustaceans.
Joydeep Sarkar
Joydeep Sarkar
( Pogonoperca punctata )
Found at depths from 10 to 25 m around large coral heads and areas where is current.
The remarkable spotted soapfish's brown body is completely covered in small white spots.They have five black bars going over the top part of their body like a saddle. One goes through the eye and the other four go over the back. They also have fins that are almost trasparent in appearance. The spotted soapfish can grow up to a maximum length of about 35 cm. Stand out features of the spotted soapfish are their flap of skin that protrudes from the lower jaw like a goatee beard and their ability to secrete toxin in their skin when stressed that gives a bitter taste when bitten to shoo away predators.
Usually hunting at night, they feed on crustaceans moving along the ocean floor and small fish.