Family : Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) , subfamily: Epinephelinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Comet grouper
Fish Name : Epinephelus morrhua
Max size : 90.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2871); max. published weight: 6,700 g (Ref. 40637)
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 80 - 370 m
Climate : tropical; 31°N - 33°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific. Epinephelus poecilonotus, Epinephelus radiatus, and Epinephelus tuamotoensis are sometimes referred to as this species.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8
Biology : Considered rare in Tahiti but quite common in atolls (Ref. 4821). The species is easily confused with E. poecilonotus, E. radiatus, or E. tuamotuensis, three closely related deep-water groupers. Known to be ciguatoxic at Mauritius. Uncommon in local markets (probably due to it deep-water habitat)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : reports of ciguatera poisoning , Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993
Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C.
Main Ref : Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)

India country information
Common Names : Banded-check reef-cod, Lagganfana
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses