| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
160 cm TL (male/unsexed); 100 cm TL (female); max.weight: 107 kg |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 30 - 400 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, North Carolina (USA), Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba, Yucatan (Mexico), Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Leeward islands to Trinidad. Eastern Pacific: Galapagos Islands. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. With 8 or 9 regular vertical darker brown bars on side. The only grouper in the Caribbean with a pattern of regular dark bars (Ref. 26938). Further distinguished by the following characteristics: head and body buff; blackish brown pelvic fins; prominent blackish brown maxillary streak on the cheek along upper edge of the maxilla; depth of body contained 2.4-2.9 times in SL; head length 2.3-2.5 times in SL; convex interorbital area; rounded preopercle angle, with enlarged serrae, 1-2 small serrae at lower edge, just in front of the angle; serrate interopercle and subopercle; posterior nostrils greatly enlarged, diameter is 4 or more times larger than anterior nostrils (Ref. 89707). |
| Biology: |
A solitary (Ref. 26340), deep-water species reported from 100-400 m; juveniles sometimes in water as shallow as 30 m. Feeds on fishes, crustaceans, and squids (Ref. 89707). Virtually nothing is known of the age, growth, and reproduction of this species. Marketed fresh. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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