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Humpnose Bigeye Bream

Monotaxis grandoculis

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Humpnose Bigeye Bream (Monotaxis grandoculis)

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Max Weight

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Max Depth

100 m

Description

Monotaxis grandoculis is a species of emperor native to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands.

Description

Large adults are silvery-grey to bluish-grey becoming paler below, with dark scale margins, yellow to pinkish lips, a yellowish area around the eye, and a narrow pinkish to red margin on the fins. Juveniles are dark above becoming paler below with 3-4 white bars on the side and a yellow tail with dark upper body that fades and contracts upward with age, crossed by three or four white bars that are wider than on Monotaxis heterodon (Redfin Emperor) and a yellow tail. Large adults rarely seen, usually observed as an intermediate stage with some black on back and visible white bars. This species can reach a length of 60 centimetres (24 in) TL though most do not exceed 40 centimetres (16 in). It has been recorded to reach a weight of 5.9 kilograms (13 lb).

Dorsal fin X, 10; Anal fin III, 9; Pectoral fin 13-14; Lateral line scales 44-47; scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin 13.5. 
Large adults have a rounded head with thickened lips.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands and southeastern Oceania, north to Japan, south to Australia.

Habitat

It inhabits areas with sand or rubble substrates adjacent to coral reefs at depths of from 1 to 100 metres (3.3 to 328.1 ft), mostly between 5 to 30 metres (16 to 98 ft). Usually feeds at night on a range of invertebrates, including gastropod molluscs, brittlestars and sea urchins - also consumes crabs, polychaete worms, tunicates, and holothurians.
This species is commercially important as a food fish and is also popular as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member of its genus.

Where to Find

Egypt East Laccadive Islands Mariana Islands Australia West Saudi Arabia West +69 more in Seabook

Colors

black
brown
grey
silver
yellow
orange
blue

Poisonous

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Conservation status

(LC) Least concern

Edible

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Similar Species

Bigeye Emperor Bigeye Emperor Blackblotch Emperor Blackblotch Emperor Humpnose Bigeye Bream (intermediate) Humpnose Bigeye Bream (intermediate) Humpnose Bigeye Bream (juvenile) Humpnose Bigeye Bream (juvenile) Humpnose Bigeye Bream (sub-adult) Humpnose Bigeye Bream (sub-adult) Longfin Emperor Longfin Emperor

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Humpnose Bigeye Bream dangerous?

Humpnose Bigeye Bream is classified as: Risk of ciguatera poisoning. Always exercise caution and keep a safe distance.

Where can you find Humpnose Bigeye Bream?

Humpnose Bigeye Bream can be found in: Egypt East, Laccadive Islands, Mariana Islands, Australia West, Saudi Arabia West, Malaysia East, Taiwan, Australia North, Marshall Islands, Malaysia West, Hawaii, Somalia East, Vanuatu, Sudan, Brunei, China, Myanmar, Eritrea, Australia, Hong Kong, Kenya, India, Israel, USA West, Japan South, India East, India West, Thailand East, Thailand West, Turkey West, Israel South, Oman, Oman East, Somalia North, Australia East, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Vietnam, Seychelles, Cambodia, Indo-Pacific, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Bangladesh, Polynesia, Singapore, Tanzania, Malaysia, USA, South Africa, Red Sea, Japan, Indonesia, Chagos Islands, Mozambique, Jordan, Palau, Philippines, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Micronesia, Egypt, Tonga and Samoa, Yemen, Mascarene Islands, Madagascar, Kiribati, Djibouti, Comoros, Fiji, Thailand, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Somalia.

How deep does Humpnose Bigeye Bream live?

Humpnose Bigeye Bream can be found at depths of up to 100 meters.

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