Epinephelus tauvina (Forsskål, 1775)

Greasy grouper

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Serranidae \| Epinephelinae
Synonyms	Perca tauvina, Cephalopholis tauvina, Epinephelus chewa, ... more
Common names	Mérou loutre, Mero lutria, Greasy rockcod, ... more

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Image of Epinephelus tauvina (Greasy grouper)

Picture by Randall, J.E.

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This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 75.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5222); common length : 90.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)

Environment

Reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 1 - 300 m (Ref. 28016)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 30°N - 32°S, 29°E - 123°W (Ref. 5222)

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and eastward to Ducie in the Pitcairn Group, north to Japan, south to New South Wales and Lord Howe Island. Migration report from the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Ref. 6489, 5385) may be based on Epinephelus coioides specimens.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Color of head and body pale greenish grey or brown with round dark spots that vary from dull orange-red to dark brown, centers darker than the edges. A large black blotch (or group of black spots) often visible on body at the base of last 4 dorsal-fin spines. Five sub vertical dark bars may be present on body. Dark spots on soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins of juveniles are so close that the pale interspaces form a white reticulum. 95-112 scales in longitudinal series. Scales on body ctenoid in juveniles, becoming cycloid in adults except the area beneath and posterior to pectoral fins. Pyloric caeca 16-18. Differs from E. corallicola and E. howlandi by its more elongate body and closer-set spots (Ref. 37816).

Prefers clear water areas on coral reefs; juveniles have been taken from reef flats and in tide pools, adults found in deeper waters. Solitary and common in lightly fished areas (Ref. 37816). Adults from Oceania almost exclusively feeds on fishes (holocentrids, mullid, and pomacentrid). In the Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874. Occasionally ciguatoxic (Ref. 37816). Reports of sizes in excess of 80 cm total length for E. tauvina are probably based on misidentifications of E. coioides , E. malabaricus, and E. lanceolatus; these species grow much bigger than tauvina (Ref. 5222, Heemstra pers. comm. 09/04). .


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Data deficient (DD)	Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 9710)

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.1-0.17; tm=5-6)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High vulnerability (58 of 100)	Very high

Entered by Binohlan, Crispina B.

Modified by Heemstra, Phillip C.

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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