Home · Serranidae · Netfin grouper
Netfin grouper (Epinephelus miliaris) — Serranidae

Netfin grouper

Epinephelus miliaris
Family: Serranidae

The Netfin grouper (Epinephelus miliaris) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 53 cm.

Length
53 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Comoros, Mayotte, Cook Is. and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Netfin grouper?

Get the app

Description

The Netfin grouper is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from reef and rocky water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a robust, stocky body with a large mouth. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters by rocks, caves and coral and engulfs fish and crustaceans with a sudden, suction gulp. Many groupers change sex during their lives. It is a valued food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Netfin grouper?

The Netfin grouper has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Netfin grouper live?

The Netfin grouper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Comoros, Mayotte, Cook Is. and others

How big does the Netfin grouper get?

The Netfin grouper grows to a maximum of about 53 cm.

Is the Netfin grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Netfin grouper 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 Netfin grouper edible?

Yes, the Netfin grouper is commonly eaten.

More photos

Netfin grouper (Epinephelus miliaris) — Serranidae — 2
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Netfin grouper (Epinephelus miliaris) — Serranidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Nikita Tiunov, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Netfin grouper (Epinephelus miliaris) — Serranidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) terence zahner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Netfin grouper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Netfin grouper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Netfin grouper sourced
Scientific name
Epinephelus miliaris
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Honeyfin grouper; Netfin rockcod; Netfin grouper; Grouper; Rock cod; Spotted-finned grouper verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Comoros, Mayotte, Cook Is. and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates 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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified
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

Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) — Serranidae
Areolate grouper
Epinephelus areolatus
Serranidae
 Bridled grouper (Epinephelus heniochus) — Serranidae
Bridled grouper
Epinephelus heniochus
Serranidae
 Cloudy grouper (Epinephelus erythrurus) — Serranidae
Cloudy grouper
Epinephelus erythrurus
Serranidae
 Blue and yellow grouper (Epinephelus flavocaeruleus) — Serranidae
Blue and yellow grouper
Epinephelus flavocaeruleus
Serranidae
 Duskytail grouper (Epinephelus bleekeri) — Serranidae
Duskytail grouper
Epinephelus bleekeri
Serranidae
 Surge grouper (Epinephelus socialis) — Serranidae
Surge grouper
Epinephelus socialis
Serranidae

More from the family Serranidae

Strawberry hind (Cephalopholis spiloparaea) — Serranidae
Strawberry hind
Cephalopholis spiloparaea
Serranidae
 Ghanaian comber (Serranus accraensis) — Serranidae
Ghanaian comber
Serranus accraensis
Serranidae
 African basslet (Liopropoma africanum) — Serranidae
African basslet
Liopropoma africanum
Serranidae
 African hind (Cephalopholis taeniops) — Serranidae
African hind
Cephalopholis taeniops
Serranidae
 Agassiz's seabass (Cratinus agassizii) — Serranidae
Agassiz's seabass
Cratinus agassizii
Serranidae
 Ara (Niphon spinosus) — Serranidae
Ara
Niphon spinosus
Serranidae
 Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) — Serranidae
Areolate grouper
Epinephelus areolatus
Serranidae
 Argentine seabass (Acanthistius brasilianus) — Serranidae
Argentine seabass
Acanthistius brasilianus
Serranidae
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Netfin grouper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Netfin grouper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Netfin grouper? Get the app