| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
25 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 52 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: including the Andaman Sea, Gulf of Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Great Barrier Reef, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Description: Characterized by entirely dark brown color; head and anterior body covered by numerous small, bluish-white spots, some individuals with whitish area covering most of rear half of body; body scales ctenoid, including abdomen; greatest depth of body 2.5-2.8 in SL; rounded caudal fin; pelvic fins, 1.9-2.1 in head length (Ref. 90102); flat or slightly concave interorbital area; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth or finely serrate; upper edge of operculum very convex; naked maxilla, extending past eye (Ref. 089707). |
| Biology: |
Adults inhabit shallow waters, usually on silty reefs, midshelf lagoons and backreef areas; feeds on fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 089707). Secretive in corals to about 20 m depth. Juveniles are found under corals with rubble substrate (Ref. 48635). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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