First Record of Cephalopholis sonnerati (Red Coral Grouper) From Gopalpur Coastal Waters, Bay of Bengal

Abstract

Present study reports the first record of a red coral grouper fish identified as Cephalopholis sonnerati observed during the routine trawl net operation for fishing by a private trawler off Gopalpur coast, Odisha on 6th July 2013. A coral grouper fish naming Cephalopholis sonnerati belonging to the family Serranidae measuring length 270 mm and weight 300 gm was obtained. This fish has not been reported previously from this coastal water.The description, morphometrics and meristic characters of the fish are described in this study.