Epinephelus polyphekadion
Camouflage Grouper
Same Genus
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Appearance varies considerably with age, and difficult to distinguish from a few other Epinephelus species. Characteristics that best distinguish it include the dense circular (rather than hexagonal) dark spots over the lower portion of the body and head, but not on the upper portion (except smaller individuals, which can have the fine spots all over). The dark blotch on the top of the tale base is also usually black, or at least much darker than other dark blotches along the back.
Information
Max Size: 90 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 20.9-30.9°C
Depth: 1-46 m
Habitat Generalization Index: 14.18
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: Near Threatened
Occurrence: Infrequent (9.9% 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: Rick S-S