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Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) — Serranidae

Grouper

Epinephelus ongus
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
20.0–60.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal and lagoon reefs.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The white-streaked grouper is a grouper of the family Serranidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a brown body studded with numerous small, white streaks and spots, to which the name refers. It inhabits inner coastal and lagoon reefs, also in brackish water, where it shelters in ledges and caves; adults usually live deeper than 20 m. As an ambush hunter it catches fishes and crustaceans. It is a food fish and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Grouper?

The Grouper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Brown body with numerous white streaks; protogynous hermaphrodite that shelters in ledges.

Where does the Grouper live?

The Grouper lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; coastal and lagoon reefs.

How big does the Grouper get?

The Grouper grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Grouper is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Grouper edible?

Yes, the Grouper is commonly eaten.

More photos

Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) — Serranidae — 2
Eidiu (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) — Serranidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) cccrll, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) — Serranidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) mistysea, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) — Serranidae — 5
afguemas (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
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All data

Identification

English name
Grouper verified
Scientific name
Epinephelus ongus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Honeycomb rock cod; Lace-finned rock-cod; Rockcod; Speckled-fin rockcod; Specklefin grouper; White-streaked grouper; Specklefin rockcod; Speckle-finned cod; Wavy-lined grouper; Wavy-lined rock-cod; White-speckled grouper; White-speckled rock cod verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 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
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
60.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; coastal and lagoon reefs. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Fishes and crustaceans sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Brown body with numerous white streaks; protogynous hermaphrodite that shelters in ledges. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
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 sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. 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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