Family : Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) , subfamily: Epinephelinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Redmouth grouper
Fish Name : Aethaloperca rogaa
Max size : 60.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 4787)
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 1 - 60 m
Climate : tropical; 36°N - 36°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and east to the Gilbert Islands. Probably found in all tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. Recorded from Europa Island (MNHN 1992-0475, Ref. 33390).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-18; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Dark brown to black in color, occasionally with an orange cast (Ref 5222). Inside of this grouper's mouth ranges from light pink to crimson. Juveniles have a white border on the caudal fin (Ref. 37816).
Biology : Found in coastal reefs and lagoons, often silty habitat (Ref. 48635), in or near caves and holes in the reef. Feeds mainly on small fishes (including Pempheris sp.), also on stomatopods (Pseudosquilla sp.) (Ref. 6448); and crustaceans (Ref. 37816). Preliminary data indicate that it spawns at any time of the year and matures (females?) at about 35 cm SL (Ref. 6448). Small juveniles mimic Centropyge vrolikii (Ref. 8631), and C. nox until they outgrow their model in size (Ref. 48635). In Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C.
Main Ref : Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)

India country information
Common Names : കറൂത്ത ചെമ്മാലി, കറുതാചിമ്മലി, Kalugini, Karuthachemmali
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses