Morphology Data of Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 1999
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features none
Body shape lateral fusiform / normal
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile clearly convex
Type of eyes more or less normal
Type of mouth/snout more or less normal
Position of mouth superior
Type of scales ctenoid scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body depth distinctly less than head length, 2.9-3.4 in SL (for specimens 11-47 cm SL); head length 2.3-2.5 in SL; head pointed, dorsal profile almost straight; preopercle rounded, finely serrate; opercular spines inconspicuous; upper edge of operculum straight, sinuous or slightly convex; maxilla naked, mostly covered by upper lip; small or absent canines at front of jaws; midlateral part of lower jaw with 3-5 rows of small teeth; gill rakers of first gill arch 8-10 + 13-17 in juveniles and 4-8 in upper limb for adults larger than 25 cm SL; adults with ctenoid scales on body in broad zone along middle of side, cycloid elsewhere and with numerous auxiliary scales; caudal fin rounded; pectoral fins large and fleshy, with 17-19 rays, the fin length 1.5-2.1 in HL; short pelvic fins, not reaching anus, 2.0-2.7 in head length. Colour of adults brownish grey, the body covered with small pale spots overlain with large pale blotches; oblique black saddle on rear half of peduncle; 4-5 indistinct black blotches at base of dorsal fin; prominent black streak on maxillary groove; large adults brownish, covered with small, indistinct, contiguous pale spots; juveniles (less than 25 cm) dark grey to black, covered with prominent pupil-size white spots and smaller white dots (Ref. 39231, 89707, 90102).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus

Lateral Lines 1 Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line 51 - 61
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series 86 - 109
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels 0
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb 13 - 17
on upper limb 8 - 10
total 21 - 27
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes no striking attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   0 - 0
Ventral  0 - 0
Spines total 11 - 11
Soft-rays total 15 - 17
Adipose fin absent

Caudal fin

Attributes more or less truncate; more or less normal

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 8 - 8

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  more or less normal
Spines     0
Soft-rays   17 - 19
Pelvics Attributes  more or less normal
Position    thoracic  beneath origin of D1
Spines     
Soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary ( e.g. cephalopods )
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