| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
130 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 80 kg; max. reported age: 43 years |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 150 - 300 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Somalia and South Africa to Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Except for Japan, China, and Korea, most distribution records for Epinephelus septemfasciatus are probably based on this species. Reported as Epinephelus compressus by Postel et al. (Ref. 6453). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Distinguished by the following characteristics: body buff with 8 broad dark brown bars; blackish brown pelvic fins and distal half of the soft dorsal and anal fins; faint dark band from eye to the middle opercle spine; presence of blackish maxillary streak; minute melanophores covering gill rakers and gill arches; depth of body contained 2.2-2.7 times in SL; head length 2.4-2.5 times in SL; distinctly convex interorbital area, convex dorsal head profile; angular preopercle, enlarged serrae at angle; 0-3 small spines at lower edge of preopecle anterior to angle; distinctly serrate lower edge of subopercle and rear edge of interopercle; convex upper edge of operculum; posterior nostrils 2-3 times larger than anterior nostrils; maxilla reaches to below rear half of eye (Ref. 89707). |
| Biology: |
Probably occurs in rocky reefs. Its apparent rarity may be due to its preference for relatively deep water. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
