SERRANIDAE Groupers or sea bass
The groupers are resident hunters on many reefs and include among their numbers the giant groupers of man-eating proportions, up to 3 m long and weighing almost half a ton in weight! The more familiar groupers in shallow waters around the UAE’s coastlines are much smaller however, generally around 30 to 50 cms in length. Nearly all groupers begin life as females and change to males if there is space for them in the social hierarchy. This maximises reproductive efficiency since a single male will fertilise the eggs of many females.
Halfspotted grouper Cephalopholis hemistiktos
Brightly coloured grouper, ranging from orangey-brown to red with multitude of blue and whitish spots on body and fins. Pale yellowish blotch on upper caudal peduncle. Powerful jaws often used for scraping crustaceans and small molluscs from rocks as well as attacking fish. On coral reefs and rocky outcrops where it hunts for small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Often easily viewed on inshore reefs on the east coast from Khorfakkan to Dibba, but appear olive-brown underwater, although the lighter blotch near the tail is distinctive. Normally disappear quickly under the nearest coral branches or rocks at the approach of swimmers. 25 cm.
Coral grouper Cephalopholis miniata
Background colour is bright orange-red to red-brown, covered by a fairly even distribution of blue spots on head and body. Young fish can be more yellow. On coral reefs and rocky outcrops. feeds on small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. 50 cm.
Tawina grouper or hamour Epinephelus tauvina
Heavily spotted mottled reddish-brown over olive-brown with bars and blotches of deeper ochre. Large powerful jaws. Long dorsal fin with 10 spinous rays. Found around inshore reefs, wrecks and offshore structures where it feeds on fish, cuttlefish and crustaceans. This grouper, one of several species known as hamour in the fish souks, is the most common of the groupers found locally, and is highly prized as a food fish. 200 cm.