Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, XI+ 15-17; A, III + 8; P, 17-19; V, I + 5; LL, 49-53; GR, 23-25  photo : O.Ritner

SHORT DESCRIPTION Moderately elongated body. Large head, its length greater than body depth. Large mouth with 2 rows of teeth. Maxilla extending back to the vertical of rear half of eye. Posterior edge of preoperculum serrated with larger serrae at its angle. Continuous dorsal fin with interspinous membrane slightly incised. Anal, Pectoral and Pelvic fins rounded. Caudal fin emerginated or slightly convex in juveniles color : Body background whitish with close-set orange-brown spots with narrow space between them. Most of the spots are sub-equal to eye diameter. Posterior margin of caudal fin white. size : 20-40 cm (max 47 cm) DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Epinepelus coioides, Epinephelus marginatus and Epinephelus geoffroyi - The spots on the body much smaller the eye diameter. Other serranids – different color pattern. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds, like other serranid on fish and large invertebrates. Protogynous hermaphrodite, female mature at 20 cm and male at 30 cm. Eggs and larvae planktonic. Reach the age of 15 years habitat : Inhabits seagrass meadows or silty substrate in the vicinity of rocks or coral, to depth of 200 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Israel (2015) (Rothman et al 2015). DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Wide Indo-Pacific distribution. Mediterranean : Israel ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare, only one specimen was collected in Israel.   MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None in the Mediterranean. Considered a highly esteemed commercial species in its native region.

KEY REFERENCES ‏‏Heemstra P.C. and Randall J.E., 1993. FAO species catalogue, Vol 16. Groupers of the world (Family Serranidae, Subfamily Epinephelinae). FAO Fisheries Synopsis 125 Randall, J.E. and Heemstra, P.C. 1991. Revision of the Indo-Pacific groupers (Perciformes: Serranidae: Epinephelinae), with description of five new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes 20: 1-322. Rothman, B.S.S., Stern, N. and Goren, M. 2016. First record of the Indo-Pacific areolat grouper Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775) (Perciformes: Epinephelidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. Zootaxa 4067 (4), 479-483. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet : January 2017 © ciesm 2001