Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 5 - 380 m (Ref. 5222). Tropical; 30°N - 11°N, 179°W - 153°W (Ref. 5222)
Eastern Central Pacific: known only from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 122 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4887); max. published weight: 22.7 kg (Ref. 4887)
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Distinguished by the following characteristics: juveniles greyish brown to dark brown body color with 8 vertical series of white spots on body; adults dark brown with less distinct vertical series of white spots and obscured by numerous additional pale spots and blotches of variable size; fins mostly unspotted; depth of body contained 2.3-2.7 times in SL, width 2.0-2.5 times in depth; head length 2.3-2.5 times in SL; convex interorbital area, width subequal to eye diameter for fish 10-20cm SL; subangular preopercle, 3-5 enlarged serrae at angle; fleshy ventral edge of preopercle, without serrae; smooth edge of interopercle and subopercle or with a few serrae; convex upper edge of operculum; ovate and enlarged posterior nostrils of adults, larger than anterior nostrils (Ref. 89707).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Occurs in deep waters (Ref. 7364). Benthic and benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds mainly on fish and crustaceans (Ref. 89707). A good fish to eat, fleshy, eaten any way except raw (Ref. 7364). Minimum depth from Ref. 122680.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Craig, M.T. and P.A. Hastings, 2007. A molecular phylogeny of the groupers of the subfamily Epinephelinae (Serranidae) with revised classification of the epinephelini. Ichthyol. Res. 54:1-17. (Ref. 83414)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 9.3 - 15.3, mean 15.1 °C (based on 3 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01445 (0.00822 - 0.02541), b=3.05 (2.90 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.67 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 38.4 [18.1, 76.4] mg/100g; Iron = 0.587 [0.297, 1.119] mg/100g; Protein = 17.3 [15.5, 19.1] %; Omega3 = 0.234 [0.132, 0.418] g/100g; Selenium = 108 [53, 231] μg/100g; VitaminA = 22.3 [7.4, 74.3] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.837 [0.566, 1.273] mg/100g (wet weight);
