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Dotted grouper (Epinephelus epistictus) — Serranidae

Dotted grouper

Epinephelus epistictus
Family: Serranidae

The Dotted grouper (Epinephelus epistictus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 80 cm.

Length
80 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
90.0–800.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Dotted grouper is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 80 cm and has a robust, stocky body with a large mouth. The pale-brown body bears scattered black dots and faint oblique bands. As a bottom-oriented ambush predator it shelters in crevices, caves and wrecks of coral and rocky reefs and engulfs fish and crustaceans. Many groupers change sex. It is a valued food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dotted grouper?

The Dotted grouper has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Dotted grouper live?

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

How big does the Dotted grouper get?

The Dotted grouper grows to a maximum of about 80 cm. On average the species is around 70 cm.

Is the Dotted grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Dotted grouper is harmless to humans.

Is the Dotted grouper edible?

Yes, the Dotted grouper is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stip-tandbaars sourced
English name
Dotted grouper sourced
Scientific name
Epinephelus epistictus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Black-spotted grouper; Black-spotted rockcod; Broken-line grouper; Brown rockcod verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
80.0 verified
Average length (cm)
70.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
90.0 verified
Max depth (m)
800.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 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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