Home · Serranidae · One-blotch grouper
One-blotch grouper (Epinephelus melanostigma) — Serranidae

One-blotch grouper

Epinephelus melanostigma
Family: Serranidae

The One-blotch grouper (Epinephelus melanostigma) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 55 cm.

Length
54.9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The One-blotch grouper is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a robust, brown with fine spots and a dark blotch under the dorsal fin body with a large mouth. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among rocks and coral and engulfs fish and crustaceans with a sudden suction strike. Like many groupers a female changes sex on loss of the male. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the One-blotch grouper?

The One-blotch grouper has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the One-blotch grouper live?

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

How big does the One-blotch grouper get?

The One-blotch grouper grows to a maximum of about 55 cm. On average the species is around 25 cm.

Is the One-blotch grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the One-blotch grouper is harmless to humans.

Is the One-blotch grouper edible?

The One-blotch grouper is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Eenvlek-tandbaars sourced
English name
One-blotch grouper sourced
Scientific name
Epinephelus melanostigma
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Blackspot grouper; Black-spot grouper; Blackspot honeycomb grouper verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
54.9 verified
Average length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

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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