| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
70 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 18 - 383 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: spotty distribution from the Red Sea to Japan and Papua New Guinea. Referred to as Epinephelus morrhua morrhua in Japan (Ref. 5978). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Distinguished by the following characteristics: tan body color with 5 oblique dark-edged pale bands; dark bands with scattered small black spots and pale blotches, especially dorsally; pale interspaces with small dark brown spots, mainly arranged in series along the middle of the interspaces; adults with dark brown line from the lower edge of the eye to the edge of the subopercle; faint dark band along the maxillary groove and continuing to the edge of the interopercle; dorsal fin and caudal fin covered with small dark spots; juveniles dark brown with black-edged pale brown bands enclosing numerous small black spots; body depth contained 2.6-3.0 times in SL; head length 2.1-2.3 times in SL; nearly flat interorbital, dorsal head profile slightly convex; 2-5 distinctly enlarged serrae on preopercle angle; upper edge of operculum almost straight; adults posterior nostril diameter 2-3 times that of anterior nostrils; maxilla reaches to or past vertical at rear edge of eye; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 89707). |
| Biology: |
Adults are found at depths between 80 to 383 m; juveniles in 18 to 20 m (Ref. 5222), over hard substrates (Ref. 89707). The species is apparently rare (Ref. 5222). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 November 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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