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Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos) — Serranidae

Snubnose grouper

Epinephelus macrospilos
Family: Serranidae

The Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 51 cm.

Length
51 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–44.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The snubnose grouper is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 51 cm and has a light-brown body densely covered with dark, angular spots, with a few larger blotches on the back. As a bottom-oriented ambush predator it lives around coral and rocky reefs and engulfs small fish and crustaceans. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Snubnose grouper?

The Snubnose grouper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Snubnose grouper live?

The Snubnose grouper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others

How big does the Snubnose grouper get?

The Snubnose grouper grows to a maximum of about 51 cm.

Is the Snubnose grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Snubnose 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 Snubnose grouper edible?

Yes, the Snubnose grouper is commonly eaten.

More photos

Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos) — Serranidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Jerome Huet (IFREMER, Délégation océan Indien (DOI), Département Ressources Biologiques et Environnement (RBE), F-97420 Le Port, France) (CC BY 4.0)
Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos) — Serranidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos) — Serranidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Julien Bidet (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos) — Serranidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) barthazes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Snubnose grouper sourced
Scientific name
Epinephelus macrospilos
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Coral cod; Grouper; Large-spotted rockcod; Reef cod; Snubnose rockcod; Bigspot rockcod; Seabass; Snubnose rock cod verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
44.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
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

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Fin

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