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Epinephelus melanostigma Schultz, 1953

One-blotch grouper
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Epinephelus melanostigma   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Epinephelus melanostigma (One-blotch grouper)
Epinephelus melanostigma
Picture by Randall, J.E.

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Perciformes/Serranoidei (Groupers) > Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Etymology: Epinephelus: Greek, epinephelos = cloudy (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Schultz.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 30 m (Ref. 5213). Tropical; 29°N - 34°S, 28°E - 157°W (Ref. 5222)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-West Pacific: Natal, South Africa to the central Pacific. Not known from the Red Sea nor Persian Gulf.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 54.9 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 125599); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9137); max. published weight: 3.8 kg (Ref. 125599)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. A single large black blotch along middle of dorsal fin base (Ref. 37816), which can be turned off (Ref. 48635); further characterized by head, body and fins having numerous close-set polygon shaped dark brown spots; broad zone along side of body with ctenoid scales, cycloid scales elsewhere; body with auxiliary scales; greatest depth of body 2.9-3.4 in SL; rounded caudal fin; short pelvic fins, 2.0-2.6 in head length (Ref. 90102); head length 2.2-2.4 in SL; flat or slightly concave interorbital area; rounded preopercle, serrae mostly covered by skin; straight or slightly convex upper edge of operculum; subequal posterior and anterior nostrils; maxilla reaches to or past vertical at rear edge of eye; 3-5 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw, inner teeth about twice as long as outer ones (Ref. 89707).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Occur in outer reef flats and shallow lagoon (Ref. 37816). Reported to be taken in a trawl, thus presumably caught somewhat deeper than 7 m. Also reported to occur in reefs at a depth of about 30 m (Ref. 5213). Because of its small size and apparent rarity, it is of little or no commercial importance. Solitary (Ref 90102).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 1993. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):382 p. (Ref. 5222)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 15 January 2018

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31637)





Human uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource | Sea Around Us

More information

Trophic ecology
Food items
Diet compositions
Food consumptions
Food rations
Predators
Ecology
Ecology
Population dynamics
Growths
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
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Recruitments
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Life cycle
Reproduction
Maturities
Fecundities
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Egg(s)
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Distribution
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FAO areas
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BRUVS - Videos
Anatomy
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Otoliths
Physiology
Body compositions
Nutrients
Oxygen consumptions
Swimming type
Swimming speeds
Visual pigment(s)
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Diseases / Parasites
Toxicities (LC50s)
Genetics
Genetics
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Aquaculture profiles
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Stamps, coins, misc.
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References

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Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | BOLDSystems | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GenBank: genome, nucleotide | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | MitoFish | National databases | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search | World Records Freshwater Fishing | Zoobank | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 24.9 - 29.3, mean 28.4 °C (based on 2734 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804):  PD50 = 0.5000   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01148 (0.00668 - 0.01973), b=3.05 (2.91 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278):  4.0   ±0.67 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766):   Very high.
Nutrients (Ref. 124155):  Calcium = 37.4 [18.0, 75.7] mg/100g; Iron = 0.522 [0.288, 1.088] mg/100g; Protein = 18.5 [17.0, 19.9] %; Omega3 = 0.125 [0.079, 0.199] g/100g; Selenium = 27 [16, 48] μg/100g; VitaminA = 232 [64, 837] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.42 [0.97, 1.99] mg/100g (wet weight);