Queensland groper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)

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Queensland groper fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Queensland groper description

Despite being the largest reef-dwelling fish in the world, the Queensland groper is rarely seen in the wild ⁽¹⁾. Juveniles are characterised by dark spots and a banded pattern, whilst adults are mottled brownish to dark grey, a colouration which provides good camouflage in the reef habitat ^{(1) (3)}. The Queensland groper has a stocky body and rounded tail, and is often seen either resting motionless on the bottom or hovering in mid-water ⁽³⁾.

Also known as

brindle bass, brindled grouper, giant grouper.

French

Mérou Lancéolé.

Spanish

Mero Lanceolade.

Size

Length: up to 270 cm ⁽²⁾

Weight

400 kg ⁽²⁾

Queensland groper biology

Little information is available on the biology of the Queensland groper ⁽¹⁾, a solitary and long-lived species ⁽³⁾. It is known to be a carnivorous fish, with a diet consisting of spiny lobsters, crabs, bony fish, skate and small sharks ⁽⁴⁾. Although not much is known about its breeding habits, the Queensland groper is thought to attain sexual maturity when it reaches about 1.3 metres in length ⁽³⁾, and spawning, when the female releases a large quantity of eggs into the surrounding water, is believed to occur during the summer months ⁽⁴⁾. Surprisingly, several attacks on divers by this large species have been recorded ⁽⁴⁾.

Queensland groper range

The Queensland groper is the most widely distributed member of the grouper family. It occurs in the Indo-Pacific region, from South Africa to the Hawaiian Islands. In South East Asiait has been recorded in Japan, China, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, and populations occur along the temperate and tropical coasts of Australia, from New South Wales through to Queensland ⁽¹⁾.

Queensland groper habitat

The Queensland groper inhabits caves, rocky reefs and coral reefs, mainly in shallow water. It can also be found in harbours and estuaries ⁽⁴⁾.

Queensland groper status

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Queensland groper threats

The Queensland groper is currently considered to be vulnerable to extinction as a result of over-fishing ⁽¹⁾. It is popular in the live fish trade of South East Asia, where it is considered to be of great medicinal value and thought to bring good luck. The meat of smaller individuals is considered a delicacy, with retail prices as high as $169 per kilogram. Juveniles are also at risk of being captured for the aquarium trade ⁽³⁾. Unfortunately, populations of the Queensland groper are even low in unexploited areas, as a large area of reef is required to sustain an individual fish ⁽¹⁾.  

Queensland groper conservation

In Australia this species is protected from both line and spear fishing in Queensland and New South Wales waters, and studies are being conducted to discover more about its biology, particularly aspects such as breeding, migration and spawning ⁽³⁾. The capture of the Queensland groper is also banned in the Andaman Islands; the success of this measure is illustrated by the fact that populations here are thriving ⁽²⁾.

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

Find out more

For further information on the conservation of groupers see:

• Groupers and Wrasses Specialist Group:
  http://www.hku.hk/ecology/GroupersWrasses/iucnsg

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

This species information was authored as part of the ARKive and Universities Scheme.

Glossary

Carnivorous

Feeding on flesh.

Spawning

The production or depositing of large quantities of eggs in water.

References

1. IUCN Red List (March, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. and Steene, R.C. (1996) Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.
3. Primefacts. (2006) Giant Queensland Grouper. NSW department of Primary Industries, New South Wales.
4. Van der Elst, R. (1993) A Guide to the Common Sea Fishes of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.