Speckled blue grouper (Epinephelus cyanopodus)

Scientific name: Epinephelus cyanopodus Richardson, 1846

The Speckled blue grouper (Epinephelus cyanopodus) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae.

Biology

Usually found around isolated coral heads in lagoons or bays, but also caught on outer reef area. According to Myers (1989, ) it usually swims out in the open, several meters above the bottom. It is readily caught by anglers at night. Feeds mainly on sand-dwelling fishes and crustaceans such as snake eels and box crabs. In Hong Kong live fish markets.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Epinephelus cyanopodus
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 122
Depth range: 2–150 m (7–492 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 150 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Pacific: southern Japan to southern Queensland and east to Fiji and the islands of Micronesia. Recently recorded from Tonga. Record from Western Australia in the Indian Ocean is dubious. Replaced by Epinephelus flavocaeruleus in the Indian Ocean.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)