Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Serranoidei (Groupers) >
Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Etymology: Epinephelus: Greek, epinephelos = cloudy (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Dr Gabriella Bianchi is a marine biologist who has worked at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and was Coordinator, Marine and Inland Fisheries Service, at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the Food & Agriculture Organization of [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Randall & Heemstra.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 6 - 88 m (Ref. 30573). Tropical; 20°N - 11°N, 51°E - 59°E (Ref. 5222)
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia to Oman.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 52.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 11441)
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Distinguished by the following characteristics: head and body pale brownish gray, densely covered with tiny close-set dark orange-brown spots; median and paired fins spotted like body; caudal, soft dorsal and anal fins with white edge and a submarginal blackish zone; depth of body 3.2-3.6 times in SL; head length 2.4-2.6 times in SL; flat to slightly convex interorbital area, dorsal head profile with slight indentation above nostrils; preopercular angular, with enlarged serrae at the angle and a shallow notch just above the angle; upper edge of operculum straight; posterior nostril slightly larger than anterior; maxilla reaches vertical at rear edge of eye; ventral edge of maxilla with a low step-like bend one orbit diameter from rear end of bone; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw; lateral body scales ctenoid, with numerous auxiliary scales; pyloric caeca about 76 (Ref. 89707).
Found over rocky bottoms (Ref. 30573); reef-associated species. Juveniles/subadults inhabits shallow waters with high coral cover. Feeds on fishes and invertebrates (Ref. 89707). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 1993. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):382 p. (Ref. 5222)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01175 (0.00568 - 0.02430), b=3.04 (2.88 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100).
