Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)

Dusky grouper

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Serranidae \| Epinephelinae
Synonyms	Serranus marginatus, Epinephelus brachysoma, Serranus aspersus, ... more
Common names	Mérou noir, Mero moreno, Yellowbelly grouper, ... more

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Image of Epinephelus marginatus (Dusky grouper)

Picture by Randall, J.E.

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12382); max. published weight: 60.0 kg (Ref. 5222); max. reported age: 50 years (Ref. 12382)

Length at first maturity

L_m 47.0, range 45 - 55 cm

Environment

Reef-associated; marine; depth range 8 - 300 m (Ref. 27000), usually ? - 50 m (Ref. 5222)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 54°N - 43°S, 65°W - 58°E (Ref. 5222)

Eastern Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean: throughout the Mediterranean Sea and from the British Isles (Ref. 48610) round to the southern tip of Africa to southern Mozambique and Madagascar. Southwest Atlantic: southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8

Prefers rocky bottoms (Ref. 5222). Solitary and territorial (Ref. 12382). Juveniles are found closer to shore (Ref. 48605) in rocky tidal pools (Ref. 48609). Feeds on crabs and octopi; larger individuals feed on a greater proportion of fishes, the majority of which are reef-associated species (Ref. 6842). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Forms spawning aggregations (Ref. 55367). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 171). Readily caught by anglers (Ref. 5222). Does not adapt well in an aquarium (Ref. 12382).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Endangered (EN) (A2d), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group	Harmless

Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment Abundance	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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