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Banded grouper (Epinephelus amblycephalus) — Serranidae

Banded grouper

Epinephelus amblycephalus
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Banded grouper (Epinephelus amblycephalus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
40.0–130.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Highly prized

Description

The banded grouper is a grouper from the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the Andaman Sea to southern Japan, Australia and Fiji. It grows to about 50 cm and has a pale grey body with five broad dark brown cross-bars, a dark saddle blotch on the nape and white bands radiating from the eye. It lives on coral and rocky reefs of the continental shelf between about 40 and 130 metres depth and hunts fish and crustaceans. Like most groupers the species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. It is a commercially valued food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Banded grouper?

The Banded grouper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Banded grouper live?

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

How big does the Banded grouper get?

The Banded grouper grows to a maximum of about 50 cm.

Is the Banded grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Banded grouper is harmless to humans.

Is the Banded grouper edible?

Yes, the Banded grouper is a highly prized food fish.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gebande tandbaars verified
English name
Banded grouper verified
Scientific name
Epinephelus amblycephalus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Banded grouper; Bighead grouper verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Highly prized sourced
Fishing method
Handlijnvissen met aasvis nabij rif of rotsbodem. 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 Epinephelus

More from the family Serranidae

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