Blacksaddled coralgrouper (Plectropomus laevis) is a saltwater species recorded in Taiwan, Malaysia. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 4–100 m. The main season in Taiwan, Malaysia runs all year.
Scientific name: Plectropomus laevis · Water: Saltwater · Season: All year
Size: up to 125 cm
The blacksaddled coralgrouper is a serranid and a voracious piscivore of coral-rich lagoons and seaward reefs, most often encountered in channels and on outer-shelf reefs. It feeds mostly on fishes and occasionally on crustaceans, and migrates short distances to spawn in large aggregations, perhaps once or twice a year on a given reef. Its juveniles are notable for mimicking the pufferfish Canthigaster valentini. Its range runs from Kenya and Delagoa Bay in Mozambique east to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to Queensland, including most islands of the Indian and west-central Pacific, but it is unknown in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. In season all year, it lives from 4 to 100 m and reaches about 125 cm total length, commonly 84 cm standard length, and up to about 24.2 kg. It supports commercial fisheries and is a game fish, selling in the highest price band, with a trophic level of 4.1, high fishing vulnerability at 61 of 100, and medium resilience.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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