| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 50 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: known only in the Red Sea, from Eilat in the northern Gulf of Aqaba to the Farasan Islands off the southern end of Saudi Arabia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Distinguished by having the following characteristics: depth of body 2.6-3.0 in SL; head length 2.4-2.6 in SL; slightly convex interorbital area, width equal to orbit diameter on a fish of 19 cm SL; rounded preopercle, finely serrate posteriorly, lower edge more coarsely serrate; subopercle and interopercle completely serrate; maxilla reaches well past eye (Ref. 089707). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits dead reefs in silty areas as well as silty lagoons; often found in or near caves as adults, while juveniles are more common in coral rubble areas (Ref. 089707). It could possibly be an aquarium novelty. Ripe females at 17 to 19 cm SL and a mature male at 22 cm SL were reported (Ref. 6699). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 March 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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