| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
35 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 26 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 4 - 55 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: only from the northern end of the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf and coast of Pakistan. Records from elsewhere are apparently based on misidentifications of other species. Misidentified as Cephalopholis miniatus by Kuronuma & Abe (1986, Ref. 5999) from Kuwait. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-10. distinguished by the following characteristics: body depth 2.7-3.0 in SL; head length 2.4-2.6 in SL; flat interorbital area; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, lower edge fleshy; distinctly convex upper edge of operculum; scaly maxilla, reaching to or somewhat beyond vertical at rear edge of eye; ctenoid body scales, without auxiliary scales (Ref. 089707). |
| Biology: |
In the Red Sea, it is often found on patchy open reef areas. Feeds diurnally on fishes (64%, mostly pomacentrids) and crustaceans (36%). It is a monogamous species, the pair jointly defends a common territory of up to 62 square m (Ref. 6480). Major threats include overfishing, lack of management and habitat loss (Ref. 089707). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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