Seamount grouper (Epinephelus suborbitalis)

Scientific name: Epinephelus suborbitalis Amaoka & Randall, 1990

The Seamount grouper (Epinephelus suborbitalis) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae. Native range: Northwest Pacific, known only from a single specimen taken from the Minami-Koto Seamount which lies on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Upper edge of operculum convex; posterior nostril of large adults broadly oval, its diameter about 3 times that of the anterior nostril; ventral edge of the maxilla with a step-like expansion distally. Color is uniformly grayish brown, the fins darker.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Epinephelus suborbitalis
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 118
Depth range: 360–570 m (1181–1870 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 360 - 570 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Northwest Pacific: known only from a single specimen taken from the Minami-Koto Seamount which lies on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge.
Conservation status (IUCN): Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026