Pacifc insular grouper;

📖 Overview

Pacifc insular grouper; (Epinephelus insularis), first described by Nakamura & Motomura, 2021 is a large fish in the family Epinephelidae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 52.80 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 120 to 300 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Data Deficient.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D XI,16 (rarely XI,17); A III,8; pectoral-fin rays 18; lateral-line scales 48-52 (modally 48 and 50); longitudinal scale series 114-132 (120 and 128); total gill rakers 21-24 (22); body deep, its depth 30.7-42.7 (mean 35.3) % SL; the 1st to 3rd dorsal-fn spine lengths gradually increasing, 3rd or 4th (rarely 5th) spine longest; anal-fin posterior margin is rounded; caudal fin truncate, the posterior margin with narrow white line; head, body, and all fins have small polygonal brown spots (smaller than pupil, expanded on head and body undersurface) on pale background, forming a reticulate pattern; pectoral fin is brown, with its margin yellow when fresh (brownish in preserved specimens) ..Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Pacifc insular grouper; is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 120 - 300 m . Tropical South China Sea, Indonesia, Micronesia and New Caledonia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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