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Epinephelus chlorostigma (Valenciennes, 1828)

Brownspotted grouper
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Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
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Epinephelus chlorostigma   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Epinephelus chlorostigma (Brownspotted grouper)
Epinephelus chlorostigma
Picture by Field, R.


Tanzania country information

Common names: [No common name]
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Museum: NSMT-P uncat. BMNH 1985.7.9.86-87; MNHN 7286; NMW 39954 (Zanzibar) (Ref. 4787). Also Ref. 5222, 12484.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.isp.msu.edu/AFRICANSTUDIES/PLEA/TAFIRI.HTM
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Randall, J.E. and P.C. Heemstra, 1991
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Nomi Comuni | Sinonimi | Catalog of Fishes(Genere, Specie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Perciformes/Serranoidei (Groupers) > Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Etymology: Epinephelus: Greek, epinephelos = cloudy (Ref. 45335).
  More on author: Valenciennes.

Issue
Common names may have to be split accordingly to former synonym japonicus and new species insularis), following distribution (Ref. 123820).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecologia

marino associati a barriera corallina; non migratori; distribuzione batimetrica 4 - 300 m (Ref. 11888).   Tropical; 37°N - 34°S, 28°E - 169°W (Ref. 5222)

Distribuzione Stati | Aree FAO | Ecosystems | Presenze | Point map | Introduzioni | Faunafri

Western Indian Ocean: restricted.

Length at first maturity / Size / Peso / Age

Maturity: Lm 27.0, range 23 - 31 cm
Max length : 80.0 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 89707); common length : 50.0 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 5450); peso massimo pubblicato: 7.0 kg (Ref. 4787); Età massima riportata: 29 anni (Ref. 42001)

Short description Chiavi di identificazione | Morfologia | Morfometria

Spine dorsali (totale) : 11; Raggi dorsali molli (totale) : 16 - 18; Spine anali: 3; Raggi anali molli: 8. Live color whitish, with small dark brown spots on head, body, and fins except ventrally on head, thorax, and lower abdomen. Can assume a transient color phase of 3-4 rows of very large round dark spots on top of the small-spot pattern. 96-125 scales in longitudinal series. Pyloric caeca 26-52 (Ref. 04787); characterized further by having ctenoid body scales, except cycloid scales on nape, thorax, parts of ventral abdomen; body with auxiliary scales; greatest depth of body 2.8-3.3 in SL; truncate to slightly emarginate caudal fin; pelvic fins 1.7-2.4 in head length (Ref. 90102); interorbital slightly convex; preopercle angle rounded, 4-7 enlarged serrae at angle below a slight notch; upper edge of operculum straight; posterior nostril not noticeably larger than anterior nostril; maxilla reaches about to vertical at rear edge of eye; scaly maxilla, low step on posterior part of ventral edge; 2-4 rows of teeth in midlateral part of lower jaw, inner ones about twice the size of outer teeth (Ref. 089707).

Biologia     Glossario (es. epibenthic)

Found over a wide range of habitats like seagrass beds and outer reef slopes (Ref. 5213), also on mud bottoms. Solitary (Ref. 90102). Feed on small fishes and crustaceans (mainly stomatopods and crabs). Sexual transition from female to male occurs between 35-45 cm, but not all females change sex. Mature individuals form spawning aggregations (Ref. 55367). E. chlorostigma is closely related and very similar to E. polylepis and E. gabriellae which seem to replace it in the northwestern Indian Ocean. Solitary (Ref. 90102).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Riproduzione | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larve

Sex change occurs at length of 46.4 cm TL and 3 years of age (Ref. 55367). Also Ref. 6976.

Main reference Upload your references | Bibliografia | Coordinatore | Collaboratori

Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 1993. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):382 p. (Ref. 5222)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

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