Appearance
The areolate grouper is a large fish that lives near coral reefs. Its coloration is whitish to gray with rounded brownish spots; it is particularly identifiable by a narrow, white, straight margin on its truncate tail. It has 11 dorsal spines, 15-17 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 8 anal soft rays.It is often confused with the brownspotted grouper found in the Persian Gulf and several other many-spotted species.
Distribution
The areolate grouper is found in the tropical region ranging from 35°N - 33°S, 29°E - 180°E. They are found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Natal, South Africa and east to Fiji, north to Japan, south to the Arafura Sea and northern Australia. It was recently recorded to have been observed in Tonga, but appears to be absent from areas in the western Indian Ocean. In 2015 an areolate grouper was recorded in the Mediterranean Sea probably having entered through the Suez Canal as a Lessepsian migrant from the Red Sea.This grouper is usually found in seagrass beds or on fine sediment bottoms near rocky reefs, dead coral, or alcyonarian corals. in shallow continental shelf waters. Juveniles are common at water depths to 80 m; eggs and early larvae are probably pelagic.
Reproduction
Like other groupers, the areolate grouper is a sex-changing species; young are female, and some change to male with maturity. Maturity is reached at a fork length of 22 cm, and spawning usually occurs during the months of May, June, October and December.After hatching, wild grouper larvae eat copepods and other small zooplankton. Areolate grouper feed on fish and benthic invertebrates, primarily prawns and crabs.
Food
Like other groupers, the areolate grouper is a sex-changing species; young are female, and some change to male with maturity. Maturity is reached at a fork length of 22 cm, and spawning usually occurs during the months of May, June, October and December.After hatching, wild grouper larvae eat copepods and other small zooplankton. Areolate grouper feed on fish and benthic invertebrates, primarily prawns and crabs.
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