| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
40 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 20 - 60 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, and northern Australia. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797). Reported from Somalia and India by Heemstra & Randall in 1984 but valid records and specimens have not been found (Ref. 4787). Closely related to Epinephelus summana known only from the Red Sea. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body depth 2.7-3.2 in SL; head length 2.3-2.5 in SL; head pointed, flat interorbital area, dorsal head profile slightly convex; preopercle rounded, serrae small and mostly covered by skin; upper edge of operculum strongly convex, the rear edge almost vertical, the upper spine extending posterior to lower spine; rear nostril diameter about twice that of anterior nostril; small, embedded scales on maxilla; 2-4 rows of small teeth at midlateral part of lower jaw; canines at front of jaws small or absent; gill rakers of first gill arch 8-10 + 15-18 (including 6 to 8 rudiments on each limb); caudal fin rounded; pectoral fins large and fleshy, with 15-17 rays, the fin length 1.4-1.7 in HL; short pelvic fins, 1.9-2.4 in HL; lateral-line scales 48-53; lateral scale series 95-110. Colour of body brown, with numerous small white spots (in specimens >10 cm SL), horizontally elongate and tend to form wavy white lines in adults, several round or irregular pale blotches (eye-sized or larger) usually superimposed over small white spots, head brown, with numerous small white spots dorsally behind eyes; black maxillary streak usually hidden by maxilla, median fins with small white spots and streaks, the posterior margin blackish with a white edge, paired fins are greyish brown; juveniles of about 6 cm SL are brown, covered with small, dark-edged white spots which are round, except on front part of dorsal fin where they are elongated; white spots on paired fins become fewer and fainter with growth, and are absent in adults (Ref. 39231, 89707, 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits inner coastal and lagoon reefs, also in brackish waters where it occurs in ledges and caves (Ref. 5213). Adults usually found deeper than 20 m (Ref. 48635). Solitary (Ref 90102). Feeds on crustaceans and small fishes (Ref. 89707). A cryptic species which is not very common, but of some interest to fisheries in Japan (and probably elsewhere). Caught with hook-and-line, spear, and traps (Ref. 39231). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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