Epinephelus melanostigma

Oneblotch Grouper | Black-spot Grouper | Blackspot Honeycomb Gouper | One-blotch Grouper | Schultz's Rockcod
Epinephelus melanostigma
Epinephelus melanostigma, adult, Samoa, Photo: Graham Edgar
Epinephelus melanostigma
Epinephelus melanostigma, adult, Samoa, Photo: Graham Edgar
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Epinephelus melanostigma
Epinephelus melanostigma

Distribution

Tropical Indo-Pacific


Description

Honeycomb pattern of orangish brown blotches on a pale background. Distinguished from other honeycombed brown groupers and rockcods by large black spot midway along back. Length to 33 cm.


Information

Max Size: 35 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 24.2-29.8°C

Depth: 0-30m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Data Deficient

Occurrence: Infrequent (1.4% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: Joe Shields