Epinephelus guttatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Red hind
Epinephelus guttatus
photo by Bryan, D.

Family:  Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Max. size:  76 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 25 kg; max. reported age: 22 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 100 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to ParaĆ­ba, Brazil (Ref. 57756). The most common species of Epinephelus in the West Indies.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Scales cycloid except for a ctenoid patch of variable size in the pectoral region. Greenish gray to light brown on the back grading to white ventrally, with numerous well-spaced dull orange-red to brown spots on the head, body and fins. Five faint diagonal bars formed by darker spots on the sides. No saddle-shaped blotch on caudal peduncle or along base of dorsal fin (Ref. 26938); further characterized by having body depth contained 2.7-3.1 times in standard length; head length 2.3-2.4 times in standard length; evenly serrate preopercle, without salient angle; posterior nostril larger than anterior nostril (Ref. 89707).
Biology:  Found in shallow reefs and rocky bottoms. Usually solitary and territorial. Feed mainly on crabs (Calapa and Mithrax) and other crustaceans (alpheid shrimps and scyllarid lobsters), fishes (labrids and haemulids), and octopus. Some undergo sexual inversion at 28 cm TL; most fish larger than 40 cm are males. Important in terms of numbers caught and total weight of landings in the Caribbean. Easily approached by divers (Ref. 9710). Hermaphrodite species. Excellent food fish (Ref. 26938). Readily caught on hook and line and easily speared (Ref. 13442).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  reports of ciguatera poisoning


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