Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus)

Scientific name: Epinephelus areolatus Forssk?l, 1775

The Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae.

Biology

Usually found in seagrass beds or on fine sediment bottoms near rocky reefs, dead coral, or alcyonarians, in shallow continental shelf waters. Juveniles are common at water depths to 80 m. Probably spawn during restricted periods and form aggregations when doing so. Eggs and early larvae are probably pelagic. Feed on fish and benthic invertebrates, primarily prawns and crabs.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Epinephelus areolatus
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 47.0
Common length: 35.0
Depth range: 6–200 m (20–656 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 6 - 200 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Natal, South Africa and east to Fiji, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea and northern Australia. Recently recorded from Tonga. Appears to be absent from Micronesia, Polynesia, and most islands of the western Indian Ocean. Often confused with Epinephelus chlorostigma.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.31; tm=2; tmax=25)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026