Family : Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) , subfamily: Epinephelinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Spotted coralgrouper
Fish Name : Plectropomus maculatus
Max size : 100.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5222); max. published weight: 25.0 kg (Ref. 5222)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 5 - 100 m
Climate : tropical; 21°N - 28°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.21; tm=2-3)Distribution : Western Pacific: Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), Solomon Islands, and Australia (from Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia to Gladstone, Queensland) (Ref. 3150). This species was formerly listed as occurring in the western Indian Ocean based on a misidentification of Plectropomus pessuliferus.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 7-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8
Biology : Found in protected coastal reef in mixed algae and coral habitat (Ref. 48635). Common on inshore coastal reefs but absent in clear offshore reefs (Ref. 9710). Juveniles have a demersal existence in shallow water in reef habitats, especially around coral rubble (Ref. 27259). Migrate over short distances to spawn, forming aggregations (Ref. 6390). May move into shallow water to feed (Ref. 6390). Eggs float just below the water surface (Ref. 6390). Pelagic larvae are found in habitats similar to those of the adults (Ref. 27260). Juveniles feed on small fish and invertebrates such as crustaceans and squid (Ref. 27261). Commonly used for food. Its flesh is delicate and well appreciated (Ref. 5503)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : reports of ciguatera poisoning , Lewis, N.D.. 1986
Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C.
Main Ref : Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)

India country information
Common Names : Gorang
Status : questionable
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses