Dusky grouper
📖 Overview
Adults prefer rocky bottoms , are solitary and territorial . Juveniles are found closer to shore in rocky tidal pools . Enters brackish environments . Mainly feed on crabs and octopi; larger individuals feed on a greater proportion of fishes, the majority of which are reef-associated species . A protogynous hermaphrodite . Mature individuals form spawning aggregations . Utilized as a food fish . Readily caught by anglers . Not adapted well in an aquarium .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Diagnosis: head and body dark reddish brown or greyish dorsally, usually yellowish gold ventrally; irregular white, pale greenish yellow or silvery grey blotches usually visible on the body and head and mostly arranged in vertical series; more or less distinct black maxillary streak; dark brown median fins; distal edge of anal and caudal fins, often also pectoral fins, narrowly white; pelvic fins blackish distally; pectoral fins dark reddish brown or grey; margin of spinous dorsal fin and basal part of the paired fins often golden yellow; head length 2.3-2.5 in SL; convex interorbital area; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, serrae at angle slightly enlarged; smooth subopercle and interopercle; eye diameter greater than or subequal to interorbital width in fish 10-30 cm SL, less than interorbital in fish over 40 cm SL; posterior and anterior nostrils subequal or posterior nostril slightly larger; maxilla naked, reaching to or slightly past vertical at rear edge of eye; 2-4 rows of subequal teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Dusky grouper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Dusky grouper is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
A monandric species . In Europe, sex reversal occurs when females are about 14-17 years of age and between 80 to 90 cm TL . From another study, sex change occurs at 88 cm TL and 12 years of age , between 52-77 cm TL and 7-17 years . Protogynous hermaphrodite species, reaching its first sexual maturity as female at 5 years and becoming male after 10 years (some females remain so for some more years). Spawning happens during summer.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 300 m , usually ? - 50 m . Subtropical; 54°N - 43°S, 65°W - 58°E East and Southwest Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean: East Atlantic: throughout the Mediterranean Sea, and from the southern Bay of Biscay to southern tip of Africa.
🌿 Ecology
crabs and octopi; larger individuals feed on a greater proportion of fishes, the majority of which a
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 666 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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