Black-dotted grouper (Epinephelus stictus)

Scientific name: Epinephelus stictus Randall & Allen, 1987

Black-dotted grouper (Epinephelus stictus)

The Black-dotted grouper (Epinephelus stictus) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Epinephelus stictus
Family
Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
33.0
Depth range
60–142 m (197–466 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 60 - 142 m
Climate
Tropical
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 is dubious.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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