Epaulet grouper (Epinephelus stoliczkae)

An intricate pattern of spots, blotches and bars decorates the robust body of the epaulet grouper. With the exception of the underside, the anterior half of its yellowish-grey body (including the head) is covered in numerous orange-red or reddish-brown spots. In contrast, several alternating, light-and-dark, vertical bars extend backwards from around the middle of the body to the caudal fin ^{(2) (3)}. In common with many other groupers, the mouth is large, and the long dorsal fin is divided into a conspicuously spiny portion followed by a soft portion ⁽⁴⁾.

Synonyms

Serranus stoliczkae.

French

Merou Epaulette.

Spanish

Mero Hombrero.

Size

Max length: at least 38 cm ⁽²⁾

Other than its apparent habitat preferences, almost nothing is known about the biology of the epaulet grouper ⁽¹⁾. However, like other Epinephelus species, it is probably a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that individuals begin mature life as female and change sex later to become male ^{(2) (3)}. Epinephelus species tend to be voracious predators, with fish and crustaceans taken near the sea bottom forming the bulk of prey ^{(2) (5)}.

Known from shallow waters of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, Somalia, the Gulf of Oman and Pakistan ^{(1) (2) (3)}.

The epaulet grouper inhabits shallow, sandy bottoms, near small coral heads, but is not known from well developed coral reefs ^{(1) (2)}.

Classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Although the epaulet grouper is caught in traditional fisheries in parts of its range, there is no published fisheries information available. Nonetheless, this species is not thought to be currently threatened ⁽¹⁾.

While there are currently no conservation measures in place for the epaulet grouper, it is possible that it occurs in marine protected areas within its range, including in the Red Sea ⁽¹⁾.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi is a principal sponsor of ARKive. EAD is working to protect and conserve the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

For further information on the conservation of groupers see:

• Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group:
  http://www.hku.hk/ecology/GroupersWrasses/iucnsg

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Caudal fin

The tail fin of a fish.

Crustaceans

Diverse group of arthropods (a phylum of animals with jointed limbs and a hard chitinous exoskeleton) characterised by the possession of two pairs of antennae, one pair of mandibles (parts of the mouthparts used for handling and processing food) and two pairs of maxillae (appendages used in eating, which are located behind the mandibles). Includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, slaters, woodlice and barnacles.

Dorsal fin

The unpaired fin found on the back of the body of fish, or the raised structure on the back of most cetaceans.

Protogynous hermaphrodite

An animal that begins its life cycle as a female. As the animal ages, based on internal or external triggers, it shifts sex to become a male animal.

1. IUCN Red List (April, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Heemstra, P.C. and Randall, J.E. (1993) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16: Groupers of the World. Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome.
3. Randall, J.E. (1994) Coastal fishes of Oman. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.
4. Carpenter, K.E. and Niem, V.H. (1999) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome..
5. Campbell, A. and Dawes, J. (2004) Encyclopedia of Underwater Life. Oxford University Press, Oxford.