Epinephelus poecilonotus

Osteichthyes Serranidae Genus Epinephelus Epinephelus poecilonotus

Dotdash grouper EWP

15.8 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Juveniles (<12 cm SL) pale yellow to grey, oval black blotch at base of spinous dorsal-fin; a series of semicircular dark and pale bands pass ventrally around black blotch extending onto head; the third (the most ventral) and narrowest band runs from the lower edge of eye to the subopercle, then forms dots from subopercle to caudal fin; fins pale yellow where not black. Subadults (20–30 cm SL) oval black blotch at base of spinous dorsal-fin and dark bands on body break into a series of black spots; a faint dark band from maxilla to corner of preopercle. Adults (40–50 cm SL) dark spots and bands on head and body fade or disappear, fins yellowish; dorsal-fin margin brownish yellow to orange; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins blackish distally with a bluish white edge.

Size:

Up to 36 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo-West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Deep reefs from 45 to 375 m depth.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught with hook-and-line, vertical longline, and trawls.

Similar species:

Epinephelus morrhua
Comet grouper

Epinephelus morrhua differs in having head, mid and upper body tan with a series of irregular dark brown bands radiating from eye, along body and curving up to dorsal fin. Bands may be broken and appear as elongate spots (vs. in juveniles, 5–12 cm SL, with oval black blotch on body between 1^st and 7^th dorsal-fin spines, a semicircular band passes ventrally around the blotch, with more series of dark patterns and white bands below. Black markings fade with increase size, until when adult, 40–50 cm SL, where most dark spots on body are faint or absent) and fins unmarked, hyaline yellow (vs. fins yellowish; dorsal-fin margin brownish yellow to orange; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins blackish distally with a bluish white edge).

to Epinephelus morrhua

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM