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Coral cod (Epinephelus diacanthus) — Serranidae

Coral cod

Epinephelus diacanthus
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Coral cod (Epinephelus diacanthus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 55 cm.

Length
55 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–300.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The spinycheek grouper is a grouper (Serranidae) from the Indo-West Pacific, mainly the Arabian Sea and the waters around India. The species reaches about 55 cm and has a stocky, grey-brown body with fine spots and spines on the gill cover. It lives demersally over mud and sand bottoms, from shallow water to about 300 m deep, and hunts small fishes and crustaceans. Like other groupers the species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, beginning as a female and later able to change into a male. It is an important commercial food fish in the region.

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.

Where does the Coral cod live?

The Coral cod lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Coral cod get?

The Coral cod grows to a maximum of about 55 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Coral cod dangerous to humans?

No, the Coral cod is harmless to humans.

Is the Coral cod edible?

Yes, the Coral cod is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stekelwang-tandbaars sourced
English name
Coral cod verified
Scientific name
Epinephelus diacanthus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Coral trout; Grouper; Seabass; Six-barred reef cod verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
300.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

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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