| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
33 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 60 - 142 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: known only from southern Japan, Hong Kong, Hainan Islands of China, Viet Nam, South China Sea, Java, and northwest Australia. Record from Taiwan (Ref. 6864) is dubious. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Preopercle with 1 - 4 distinctly enlarged serrae at its angle; upper edge of the operculum straight; nostrils subequal. Pectoral fins not fleshy. Pyloric caeca 12. Body and head yellowish brown dorsally, whitish ventrally, with numerous small dark brown to black dots on the upper sides, and 5 faint oblique bars, which may disappear in preservative; the chest and ventral parts of the head pale reddish orange. The fins are pale, with the rays darker than the membrane; the soft dorsal and caudal fins with narrow dark brown margin. |
| Biology: |
Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154), over mud and sand substrata (Ref. 89707). Caught by trawling at depths ranging from 37 to 142 m. The small size and poor edible quality probably accounts for its low value in the markets. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 December 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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