| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
68 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 22 - 103 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, off eastern Australia (between 25°S-32°S), and off the coast of Western Australia (south of 19°30'S). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-21; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-12. Distinguished by the following characteristics: dark brown or violet-black body color, darker fins; oval body, compressed, depth contained 2.4-2.7 times in the standard length; head length 3.0-3.4 times in SL; distinctly convex dorsal head profile; nostrils subequal in juveniles, diameter of posterior nostrils twice that of anterior nostrils in 56 cm SL adults; small mouth, oblique, pair of short canines at front of each premaxilla (Ref. 89707). |
| Biology: |
An anti-tropical species. Occurs on rocky or soft (silty-sand or mud) bottoms. The young have been observed to feed on zooplankton in the water column; feeding of adults has not yet been discovered. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 April 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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