Smallscaled grouper  (Epinephelus polylepis)

Classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Having been repeatedly misidentified as Epinephelus chlorostigma for almost a century, the smallscaled grouper was first described to science in 1991 (1). With the sole exception of the belly and the underside of the head, the pale body of this robust marine fish is covered in numerous tightly packed, dark-brown spots (2) (3). In common with other groupers, the mouth is large and the anterior portion of the dorsal fin is conspicuously spiny (2) (3) (4).

The smallscaled grouper is presently only known from the Gulf of Aden, The Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Gulf, Pakistan and the west coast of India (1) (2) (3).

Underwater video surveys have shown that the preferred habitat of the smallscaled grouper appears to be small rocky outcrops from depths of 70 to 155 metres (1). However, this species has been collected in trawls from 33 to 100 metres (2), and along the southern Oman and eastern Yemen coast is fairly frequently observed in water 10 to 15 metres deep (1).

Very little is known about the biology of the smallscaled grouper, but like other Epinephelus species, it is reported to be a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that individuals begin mature life as female and change sex later to become male (1) (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).

Although the smallscaled grouper has a relatively wide distribution, it is known to have been heavily overfished over large parts of its range. In the Arabian Gulf, and in particular off the coast of Oman, the smallscaled grouper is one of the most commonly caught grouper species in the industrial fishing sector. While there is currently insufficient data to accurately assess trends over time, the population is thought to be almost certainly declining, hence the classification of Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List (1).

While several countries within the smallscaled grouper’s range have fishing regulations in place, enforcement is thought to be relatively weak (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