'Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi'
Abstract
Sex change (sequential hermaphroditism) is a
normal part of the life history of many species of
tropical coral reef fishes. Sex change can be either
from male to female (protandrous) or it can be from
female to male (protogynous). In the family
Serranidae, protogynous hermaphroditism is the
most common reproductive pattern. However,
Orange spotted grouper is diandric, i.e., they have
two types of male: Primary males which are
gonochorous (non sex changers) often with initial
phase; and Secondary males which are derived from
female to male initial phase