Epinephelus erythrurus

Osteichthyes Serranidae Genus Epinephelus Epinephelus erythrurus

Cloudy grouper

~23 cm SL. Source: © E. Mohammad, taken in Bangladesh.

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Olive to reddish brown usually with irregular pale spots and blotches that join randomly to form a dark reticulum pattern in the background; 3 dark streaks across operculum. Larger specimens may be uniformly brown, with pale spots and blotches only just visible. Markings may appear faint after death.

Size:

Up to 43 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo-West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Found in bracKish waters over mud or silty sand bottoms such as harbours and estuaries, also reef associated, from 1 to 20 m depth.

Indonesian fisheries:

Unknown.

Similar species:

Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus
Whitespotted grouper

Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus differs in being brownish grey to dark grey with irregularly shaped distinct pale spots and blotches (vs. dark grey with irregular pale spots and blotches randomly joined in a maze-like pattern on head and body. Appears drab after death).

to Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus

Epinephelus polystigma
White-dotted grouper

Epinephelus polystigma differs in the head, body and fins being dark brown with white or pale-yellow dots (vs. dark grey with irregular pale spots and blotches randomly joined in a maze-like pattern on head and body. Appears drab after death) and soft dorsal, anal, caudal and pectoral fins with narrow orange rimmed margin (vs. no distinct colour on fin margins).

to Epinephelus polystigma

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM