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Coral cod (Epinephelus bruneus) — Serranidae

Coral cod

Epinephelus bruneus
Family: Serranidae
VU · Vulnerable

The Coral cod (Epinephelus bruneus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 136 cm.

Length
136 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northwest Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The longtooth grouper is a large grouper from the northwest Pacific, off China, Korea and Japan. The species grows to about 136 cm and has a robust, brownish-grey body with irregular dark blotches and bars that fade in adults. As a reef predator it shelters around rocky reefs, wrecks and kelp and hunts fish, crustaceans and squid. It is a highly valued commercial food and farmed fish, but is under pressure from overfishing. The IUCN assesses the species as Vulnerable (VU).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Coral cod?

The Coral cod has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Robust body with fading blotches; prized reef predator, fished and vulnerable

Where does the Coral cod live?

The Coral cod lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Northwest Pacific

How big does the Coral cod get?

The Coral cod grows to a maximum of about 136 cm. On average the species is around 60 cm.

Is the Coral cod dangerous to humans?

No, the Coral cod 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 Coral cod edible?

Yes, the Coral cod is commonly eaten.

More photos

Coral cod (Epinephelus bruneus) — Serranidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) ri_su, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Coral cod (Epinephelus bruneus) — Serranidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) くらげのげぼく, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Coral cod (Epinephelus bruneus) — Serranidae — 4
P.C. Heemstra (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Coral cod (Epinephelus bruneus) — Serranidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — ふうけ (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Coral cod verified
Scientific name
Epinephelus bruneus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Grouper; Kelp grouper; Longtooth grouper; Mud grouper; Reef cod; Seabass; Yellow grouper verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
136.0 verified
Average length (cm)
60.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Natural range
Northwest Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Fishes, crustaceans and squid inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Reef-dwelling grouper; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Robust body with fading blotches; prized reef predator, fished and vulnerable sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Handlines and aquaculture sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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

Same genus Epinephelus

More from the family Serranidae

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