Greasy grouper

Facts

Scientific name:

Epinephelus tauvina

Biology:

Prefers clear water areas on coral reefs; juveniles have been taken from reef flats and in tide pools, adults found in deeper waters. Solitary and common in lightly fished areas . Adults from Oceania almost exclusively feeds on fishes (holocentrids, mullid, and pomacentrid). In the Hong Kong live fish markets . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874. Occasionally ciguatoxic . Reports of sizes in excess of 80 cm total length for E. tauvina are probably based on misidentifications of E. coioides , E. malabaricus , and E. lanceolatus ; these species grow much bigger than tauvina (Ref. 5222 , Heemstra pers. comm. 09/04 ). .

IUCN Red List Status:

Data Deficient

Threat to humans:

Reports of ciguatera poisoning

Photos & Description

License type:

CC-BY

Author:

Randall, John E

Source:

http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Photos/PicturesSummary.php?StartRow=10&ID=4461&what=species&TotRec=17

License type:

CC-BY-NC

Source:

http://eol.org/data_objects/21011449

License type:

CC-BY

Author:

Field, Richard

Source:

http://fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesSummary.php?ID=6082&what=species

License type:

CC-BY-NC

Author:

Peter Rask Møller

Source:

http://www.fishbase.us/photos/UploadedBy.php?autoctr=20049&win=uploaded

See my photos of this species See photos of this specie from other users

Short description:

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines : 3; Anal soft rays : 8. Color of head and body pale greenish grey or brown with round dark spots that vary from dull orange-red to dark brown, centers darker than the edges. A large black blotch (or group of black spots) often visible on body at the base of last 4 dorsal-fin spines. Five sub vertical dark bars may be present on body. Dark spots on soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins of juveniles are so close that the pale interspaces form a white reticulum. 95-112 scales in longitudinal series. Scales on body ctenoid in juveniles, becoming cycloid in adults except the area beneath and posterior to pectoral fins. Pyloric caeca 16-18. Differs from E. corallicola and E. howlandi by its more elongate body and closer-set spots .

Size / Weight / Age:

Maturity: L m 61.1 , range 61 - ? cm Max length : 75.0 cm TL male/unsexed; ; common length : 90.0 cm TL male/unsexed;