Malabar Grouper

One of the largest groupers in UAE waters and a prized sport and commercial fish. Highly valued for its firm white flesh. A solitary ambush predator that inhabits rocky reefs, wrecks and mangrove estuaries across the UAE coast.

Species Stats

Diet

Fish, crustaceans, cephalopods

Habitat

Rocky reefs, coral areas, estuaries and mangrove creeks

Local Name (Arabic)

هامور ملابار

Fun Facts

• 1

  Can live for over 30 years and grow to more than 2 metres.

• 2

  Like many groupers it is a protogynous hermaphrodite — it starts life as a female and can change to male.

• 3

  Listed as Vulnerable globally due to overfishing pressure across its range.

Research Papers

Found In