Home · Serranidae · Barred-chest grouper
Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus) — Serranidae

Barred-chest grouper

Epinephelus faveatus
Family: Serranidae

The Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 32 cm.

Length
32 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–125.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Sri Lanka, Cocos Is. (Keel), India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Reunion I. and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The barred-chest grouper is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 32 cm and has a light-brown body densely covered with dark, honeycomb-like spots and a few bars on the chest. As a bottom-oriented ambush predator it lives around coral and rocky reefs and engulfs small fish and crustaceans. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barred-chest grouper?

The Barred-chest grouper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Barred-chest grouper live?

The Barred-chest grouper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Sri Lanka, Cocos Is. (Keel), India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Reunion I. and others

How big does the Barred-chest grouper get?

The Barred-chest grouper grows to a maximum of about 32 cm.

Is the Barred-chest grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Barred-chest grouper is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Barred-chest grouper edible?

Yes, the Barred-chest grouper is commonly eaten.

More photos

Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus) — Serranidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) DenisNikitenko, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus) — Serranidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Paulmathi Vinod, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus) — Serranidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus) — Serranidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Marc Taquet (CC BY 4.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Barred-chest grouper sourced
Scientific name
Epinephelus faveatus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Barred-chest grouper; Bigspot grouper; Indian grouper verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
32.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
125.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Sri Lanka, Cocos Is. (Keel), India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Reunion I. and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

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Fin

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