Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus

Osteichthyes Serranidae Genus Epinephelus Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus

Whitespotted grouper EWC

31 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Greyish brown with dense covering of pale spots and larger blotches, black stripe over mouth, pectoral and caudal fins mostly darker grey.

Size:

Up to 76 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo-West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Coral reefs, usually near caves, from 2 to 65 m depth.

Indonesian fisheries:

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

Similar species:

Epinephelus ongus
Whitestreaked grouper

Epinephelus ongus differs in having upper edge of operculum strongly convex (vs. straight to weakly convex); pectoral-fin rays 15–17 (vs. 17–19) and median fins blackish with white margins (vs. median fins blackish without white margin).

to Epinephelus ongus

Epinephelus erythrurus
Cloudy grouper

Epinephelus erythurus differs in having dark grey colouration with irregular pale spots and blotches randomly joined in a maze-like pattern on head and body (vs. brown grey to dark grey with irregular shaped, distinct pale spots and blotches).

to Epinephelus erythrurus

Epinephelus polystigma
White-dotted grouper

Epinephelus polystigma differs in having body slender, its greatest depth 2.6–3.0 in standard length (vs. body deep, its greatest depth 3.0–3.4 in standard length and soft dorsal, anal, caudal and pectoral fins with narrow orange rimmed margin (vs. no distinct colouration on fin margins).

to Epinephelus polystigma

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM