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White-dotted grouper (Epinephelus polystigma) — Serranidae

White-dotted grouper

Epinephelus polystigma
Family: Serranidae

The White-dotted grouper (Epinephelus polystigma) is a brackish-water fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 48 cm.

Length
48 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The White-dotted grouper is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a robust, white to brown with numerous small white spots body with a large mouth. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among rocks and coral and engulfs fish and crustaceans with a sudden suction strike. Like many groupers a female changes sex on loss of the male. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the White-dotted grouper?

The White-dotted grouper has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly white.

Where does the White-dotted grouper live?

The White-dotted grouper lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the White-dotted grouper get?

The White-dotted grouper grows to a maximum of about 48 cm.

Is the White-dotted grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the White-dotted grouper is harmless to humans.

Is the White-dotted grouper edible?

The White-dotted grouper is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witstip-tandbaars sourced
English name
White-dotted grouper sourced
Scientific name
Epinephelus polystigma
Family
Serranidae
Other names
White-dotted grouper; White-spotted rock-cod verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
48.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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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