Epinephelus rivulatus

Osteichthyes Serranidae Genus Epinephelus Epinephelus rivulatus

Halfmoon grouper EPV

~30 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Body reddish to greenish-brown, scales on body each with a small white or pale blue spot; 4 irregular dark vertical bars sometimes visible, with a 5th bar on caudal peduncle; head dark brown to pale reddish with pale blue vermiculations and white spots on lower jaw and upper lip; pectoral fin dusky with a dark red or reddish-brown blotch at base, other fins greenish-brown or greyish-brown with darker mottled pattern.

Size:

Up to 47 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo-West Pacific in subtropical waters.

Habitat:

Coral reefs from 1 to 150 m depth.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught with handlines, longlines, gill nets, traps, and spear.

Similar species:

Epinephelus amblycephalus
Banded grouper

Epinephelus amblycephalus differs in having smooth edged dark brown bars uniform in width (vs. dark brown bars with irregular edges and varying widths) and pectoral fins uniformly hyaline red or yellow, without black blotch at base, juveniles may have numerous small black spots (vs. pectoral-fin base with dark red or reddish-brown blotch).

to Epinephelus amblycephalus

Epinephelus sexfasciatus
Sixbar grouper

Epinephelus sexfasciatus differs in having distinct dark spots on posterior dorsal fin, soft anal fin and caudal fin (vs. no distinct dark spots on these fins).

to Epinephelus sexfasciatus

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM