Epinephelus spilotoceps

Epinephelus spilotoceps
Epinephelus spilotoceps in Maldives
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Genus: Epinephelus
Species: E. spilotoceps
Binomial name
Epinephelus spilotoceps
Schultz, 1953

Epinephelus spilotoceps, commonly called foursaddle grouper among various other vernacular names, is a species of marine fish in the family Serranidae.[2]

Description

Epinephelus spilotoceps can reach a maximum length of 35 centimetres (14 in) in males.[3] The body is covered with dark brown, olive, or reddish brown polygonal spots, with the interspaces forming a white reticulum. Three dark brown blotches are usually visible at the base of the dorsal fin. Another dark brown blotch forms a saddle on the caudal peduncle. These blotches differentiates this species from the similar E. merra and E. quoyanus.[4]

Distribution

This grouper is widespread in Indo-West-Pacific, from East coast of Africa (Zanzibar, Tanzania to Ponta Zavora, Mozambique) to the islands of Indian and west-central Pacific but it is absent from the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.[4]

Habitat

The foursaddle grouper is a reef-associated species. It usually can be found in lagoons and reef margins at depths up to 30 metres (98 ft).[4]

References

  1. ↑ Pollard, D., Choat, J.H., Sadovy, Y., Craig, M. & Bertoncini, A.A. 2008. Epinephelus spilotoceps. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 October 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=5837&GenusName=Epinephelus&SpeciesName=spilotoceps&StockCode=6134
  3. ↑ FishBase
  4. 1 2 3 http://www.fishbase.org/summary/5837
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