Epinephelus kupangensis Tucker, Kurniasih & Craig, 2016
Fivebar grouper
Kerapu Bendera

Family:  Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Max. size:  39.1 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 50 - 300 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia (Timor Sea), Timor-Leste, Philippines, Taiwan, and Fiji.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished from its Indo-Pacific congeners by having the following characters: lateral line scales 46-49 (vs. at least 51 in all species except E. areolatus, E. bilobatus, E. bleekeri, E. bontoides, E. chlorostigma, E. faveatus, E. howlandi, E. longispinis, E. macrospilos, E. maculatus, E. merra, E. miliaris, E. polyphekadion, E. quoyanus, E. timorensis, E. trimaculatus), round caudal fin (vs. emarginate to truncate caudal fin in E. areolatus, E. bleekeri, E. chlorostigma, E. geoffroyi, E. timorensis), no distinct spots over most of head and body (vs. numerous distinct spots - not dots - over most of head and body in E. bilobatus, E. bontoides, E. faveatus, E. howlandi, E. longispinis, E. macrospilos, E. maculatus, E. merra, E. miliaris, E. polyphekadion, E. quoyanus, E. trimaculatus) (Ref. 111063).
Biology:  This fish is part of a large, deep-water drop line fishery, which focuses its efforts on banks and promontories of shelf habitat in depths of up to 350 m (Ref. 111063).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Collected from Timor Sea, Sulawesi, Bali and Kupang, Nusa Tenggara, Timur. The large, deep-water drop line fishery targets deep-water groupers (Epinephelidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae) and these landings typically enter the local Indonesian market in Kupang. Catches considered worthy of international export (based on size, appearance, species, and freshness) are exported to Benoa Harbor, Bali and where major destinations for the international export of grouper and snapper fish include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States (Ref. 111063).


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