Blacksaddled coralgrouper (Plectropomus laevis)

Scientific name: Plectropomus laevis Lacep?de, 1801

Blacksaddled coralgrouper (Plectropomus laevis)

The Blacksaddled coralgrouper (Plectropomus laevis) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae.

Biology

A voracious piscivore inhabiting coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs. Encountered most frequently in channels and outer shelf reefs. Migrate over short distances to spawn, forming large aggregations, maybe 1 or 2 per reef. Feeds mostly on fishes, and occasionally on crustaceans. The prey comprises a variety of large reef fishes, including groupers, and this diet of large fishes is responsible for the high concentrations of ciguatera toxins. Juveniles may mimic the pufferfish Canthigaster valentini. Usually wary. The young have a demersal existence in shallow water in reef habitats, especially around coral rubble. They feed on small fish and invertebrates such as crustaceans and squid. Eggs float just below the surface. The pelagic larvae are found in habitats similar to t

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Plectropomus laevis
Family
Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
125
Common length
84.0
Depth range
4–100 m (13–328 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 4 - 100 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Kenya to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique, eastward to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Queensland, Australia and including most islands of the Indian Ocean and of western and central Pacific. Unknown in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. Misidentified as Plectropomus maculatus by some authors.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (A2d+4d)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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