Epinephelus areolatus

Osteichthyes Serranidae Genus Epinephelus Epinephelus areolatus
Areolate grouper EPR
Epinephelus areolatus
28.2 cm TL
Characteristic features:
  1. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 15–17 soft rays
  2. Caudal fin truncate
  3. 47–52 lateral-line scales
  4. Entirely covered with close-set yellowish brown spots
Colour:

Entirely covered with close-set yellowish brown spots (about size of pupil of eye), caudal fin uniformly spotted.

Size:

Up to 40 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo–West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Soft bottoms near reefs, from 6 to 200 m depth.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught with hook-and-line, traps, and in trawls.

Similar species:

Epinephelus bleekeri
Bleeker’s grouper

Epinephelus bleekeri

Epinephelus bleekeri differs in having the lower 2 thirds of caudal fin dusky (vs. caudal fin uniformly spotted); pectoral and pelvic fins dusky (vs. with dark spots) and caudal-fin posterior edge without white margin (vs. white margin present).

to Epinephelus bleekeri
Internal links:


Epinephelus areolatus gallery

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM