Bream
Monotaxis grandoculis
The humpnose big-eye bream (Monotaxis grandoculis) is a ray-finned fish in the emperor family Lethrinidae, a group commonly called emperors and emperor breams. The species carries a long list of common names, among them bigeye bream, bigeye emperor and roundtooth large-eye bream, all of which highlight its conspicuously large eyes. It is a widespread inhabitant of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Family
Lethrinidae
Avg Size
40-60 cm
Habitat
This bream is broadly distributed across the Indo-Pacific. Its range begins at the Red Sea and the East African coast, extending south to South Africa and east across the Indian Ocean, though it does not occur in the Persian Gulf. In the Pacific it reaches as far as the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan and south to Australia, where it is found from offshore reefs of Western Australia across to Queensland and New South Wales, with juveniles straying as far south as Sydney.
Behaviour
Humpnose big-eye breams are usually seen alone, although larger adults sometimes gather into schools of up to about 50 fish. They feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and small fishes. The species is also known to host several parasites, including the flukes Haliotrema angulocirrus and Proctoeces hawaiiensis.
Where & When to See It
El Fanadir
Ras Abu Helal
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shabrur Um Gamar
The Ulysses
Blue Hole - El Bells
Bluff Point
Careless Reef
South Ras Abu Galum
Chrisoula K
Lighthouse
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Canyon
The Caves
The Islands
Kimon M
Three Pools
Abu Nuhas
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Rosalie Moller
Umm Gamar North
Umm Gamar South
Napoleon Reef
Giannis D
North Gabr El Bint
Shaab Abu Nugar
North Ras Abu Galum
Carnatic
Shaab El Erg
Eel Gardens
Siyul Kebira
Gota Abu Ramada
Gota Kebir
Habili Ali
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Little Brother Island
Middle Garden
Near Garden
Numidia
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Katy
Ras Nasrani
Habili Gaffar
Ras Zaatar
Rocky Island
Salem Express
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Eissa
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Petra
Shaab Sabina
Shaab Sataya
Shark Observatory
Shark's Bay
Small Crack
Small Giftun
Soma Bay Garden
Temple
The Alternatives
Thomas Reef
Tower
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Kharalim
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Zabargad Island
Abu Ghalawa
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
El Fanous West
Gota Soraya
Ras Um Sid
Panorama Reef
Shaab Claudia
Shaab Eshta
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Sodfa
Thistlegorm
Turft El Shahed
Abu Dabbab
Abu Hashish
Abu Kifan
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
Aida
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Big Brother Island
Big Giftun
Daedalus Reef
Eel Garden
El Erug
El Mina Wreck
Elphinstone
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Fury Shoals
Gordon Reef