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Leather bass (Dermatolepis dermatolepis) — Serranidae

Leather bass

Dermatolepis dermatolepis
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Leather bass (Dermatolepis dermatolepis) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 100 cm.

Length
100 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
21.0–40.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The leather bass is a large grouper from the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Peru and the Galapagos. The species grows to about 100 cm and has a deep, greyish-brown body with paler spots and thick, leathery skin. As a reef predator it shelters in crevices and caves and hunts small fish and crustaceans. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Leather bass?

The Leather bass has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Leather bass live?

The Leather bass lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Leather bass get?

The Leather bass grows to a maximum of about 100 cm.

Is the Leather bass dangerous to humans?

No, the Leather bass is harmless to humans.

Is the Leather bass edible?

Yes, the Leather bass is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Leren zeebaars verified
English name
Leather bass verified
Scientific name
Dermatolepis dermatolepis
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Leather bass verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
100.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
21.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Handlijnen en speervisserij sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Dermatolepis

More from the family Serranidae

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