Epinephelus lebretonianus (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1853)
Mystery grouper
photo by Devarapalli, P.

Family:  Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Max. size:  25 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine
Distribution:  Probably Indo-Pacific: unknown locality of the type specimen.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Distinguished by the following characteristics: body mottled with brown and covered with small close-set dark brown spots; brown median fins, with small edged brown ocelli, fin margin is blackish; paired fins whitish proximally, brown distally; body depth contained 3.4 times in SL; head length 2.3 times in SL; slightly convex interorbital area; finely serrate preopercle, lower rear edge mostly smooth; posterior nostril slightly larger than anterior nostril; maxilla reaches vertical at rear edge of orbit; 3 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 89707).
Biology:  This species is known only from the holotype which was collected during the circum-global voyage of the corvettes `L'Astrolabe' and 'La Zélée' which were attempting to find the South Pole. The authors noted that the provenance of this specimen was unknown. Since most of the fishes reported from the voyage were from the Indo-Pacific region, it seems likely that this species was also collected in the Indo-Pacific region. Habitat and biology is unknown.
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 17 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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