Brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)

Scientific name: Epinephelus fuscoguttatus Forssk?l, 1775

The Brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae.

Biology

Occurs in lagoon pinnacles, channels, and outer reef slopes, in coral-rich areas and with clear waters. Juveniles in seagrass beds. Feeds on fishes, crabs, and cephalopods. May be ciguatoxic in some areas. Mainly active at dusk. Palau fishers increase their drop-line and spear-gun catches through knowledge of reproductive cycle of remochel, one of most important species in the area. Cultured under experimental conditions in the Philippines; a candidate for aquaculture in Singapore. In Hong Kong live fish markets.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Epinephelus fuscoguttatus
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 120
Common length: 50.0
Depth range: 1–60 m (3–197 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 60 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa and the Phoenix Islands, north to Japan, south to Australia. Unknown from the Persian Gulf, Hawaii, and French Polynesia. Often confused with Epinephelus polyphekadion (=Epinephelus microdon of recent authors).
Conservation status (IUCN): Near Threatened (NT), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.16-0.20)