Family : Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) , subfamily: Epinephelinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Giant grouper
Fish Name : Epinephelus lanceolatus
Max size : 270 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5213); max. published weight: 400.0 kg (Ref. 26367)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 4 - 100 m
Climate : tropical; 28°N - 39°S
Global Importance : fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Algoa Bay, South Africa and eastward to the Hawaiian and Pitcairn islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Absence in the Persian Gulf is puzzling.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Dorsal fin spines of large individuals increase in size from front to back. It is the largest of all coral reef dwelling bony fishes (Ref. 37816).
Biology : The largest bony fish found in coral reefs (Ref. 9710). Common in shallow waters. Found in caves or wrecks; also in estuaries. Individuals more than a meter long have been caught from shore and in harbors. Juveniles secretive in reefs and rarely seen (Ref. 48635). Benthopelagic and benthic (Ref. 58302). Feed on spiny lobsters, fishes, including small sharks and batoids, and juvenile sea turtles and crustaceans. In South African estuaries, the main prey item is the mud crab, Scylla serrata. Unconfirmed reports of fatal attacks on humans. Nearly wiped out in heavily fished areas (Ref. 9710). In the Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253). Large individuals may be ciguatoxic (Ref. 37816)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : traumatogenic , Halstead, B.W., P.S. Auerbach and D.R. Campbell. 1990
Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C.
Main Ref : Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)

India country information
Common Names : Bridlebass, കലവ മീന്, വരയ കലവ , கலவா, गोबरा, हीकरू, വരയന് കലവ, ௨ல்டா கலவா, పున్ని మిన్    , കൊലമീന്, കുറൂപ്പ്  , పిల్లి పున్ని , વેખરુ , વેખલી , ಕೊಲಜಿ , బొంతు  , கலவா , Banded rockcod, Bontoo, Giant grouper, Gobra, Hekru, Kalava, Kolaji, Kolamin, Rock cod, Varaya kalawa, Wekhali, Wekhru
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : no uses