Scientific Name
Epinephelus stictus

Common Name
Black-dotted grouper

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Preopercle with 1 - 4 distinctly enlarged serrae at its angle; upper edge of the operculum straight; nostrils subequal. Pectoral fins not fleshy. Pyloric caeca 12. Body and head yellowish brown dorsally, whitish ventrally, with numerous small dark brown to black dots on the upper sides, and 5 faint oblique bars, which may disappear in preservative; the chest and ventral parts of the head pale reddish orange. The fins are pale, with the rays darker than the membrane; the soft dorsal and caudal fins with narrow dark brown margin.

Classification

Classified By

Randall & Allen, 1987

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets (Serranidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: known only from southern Japan, Hong Kong, Hainan Islands of China, Viet Nam, South China Sea, Java, and northwest Australia. Record from Taiwan (Ref. 6864) is dubious.

Range

31°N - 17°S, 106°E - 126°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

60 m

Depth To - meters

142 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 60 - 142 m (Ref. 5222)

Trophic Level

3.74 s.e. 0.60 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

33.0 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: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)