Home · Serranidae · Grouper
Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) — Serranidae

Grouper

Epinephelus ongus
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Grouper (Epinephelus ongus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
20.0–60.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The white-streaked grouper is a grouper of the family Serranidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a brown body studded with numerous small, white streaks and spots, to which the name refers. It inhabits inner coastal and lagoon reefs, also in brackish water, where it shelters in ledges and caves; adults usually live deeper than 20 m. As an ambush hunter it catches fishes and crustaceans. It is a food fish and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Grouper?

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

Where does the Grouper live?

The Grouper lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Grouper get?

The Grouper grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Grouper is harmless to humans.

Is the Grouper edible?

Yes, the Grouper is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witstreep-tandbaars sourced
English name
Grouper verified
Scientific name
Epinephelus ongus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Honeycomb rock cod; Lace-finned rock-cod; Rockcod; Speckled-fin rockcod verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
60.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Epinephelus

More from the family Serranidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →