Spinycheek grouper (Epinephelus diacanthus) fish species and information / pictures of Spinycheek grouper - Epinephelus diacanthus

Spinycheek grouper (Epinephelus diacanthus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Epinephelus diacanthus

Common Name
Spinycheek grouper

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8

Classification

Classified By
Valenciennes, 1828
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets (Serranidae)

Distribution

Region
Indian Ocean
Distribution
Indian Ocean: continental shelf of the northern Indian Ocean from the Gulf of Aden to Sri Lanka and Madras, India. Not known from the Persian Gulf nor the Red Sea. Records from the western Pacific are based on misidentifications of Epinephelus stictus or Epinephelus fasciatomaculos.
Range
29°N - 5°N, 56°E - 83°E

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
10 m
Depth To - meters
300 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 300 m (Ref. 28016), usually 10 - 120 m (Ref. 11441)
Trophic Level
3.82 s.e. 0.61 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
55.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.21-0.61)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Near Threatened (NT) , IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group