Description:

Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 16-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.

Medium-sized full-bodied grouper. Dorsal head profile slightly convex, rounded preopercle, anterior and posterior nostrils of approximately equal size. Maxilla reaches below 
rear half of eye; 3-4 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw. Pair of short fixed canines at front of both jaws. Caudal fin truncate to slightly convex.

Colour. Dull yellowish orange to brownish red, usually with five faint dark bars on the body. Tips of spinous dorsal fin and outer triangular part of interspinous membranes 
darker red. Distal portion of soft dorsal fin darker brownish-red. Dorsal margin of caudal fin dark greenish-brown. Eye narrowly edged in pale blue. 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length:  50 cm TL
 

A deep water, rocky and coral reef associated species (depth 20-220 m). Young in depths 20-40 m adults 70-220 m on outer reef slopes.

(All specimens recorded by Nevill 2017-18 were caught at the bordaz/edge of the Mahe plateau).
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery from deep water at the edge of the Mahe Plateau, it is an uncommon to 
rare component of the catch. 

Similar to E. fasciatus, differing primarily by having straighter head profile and longer snout, red rather than black tips on spinous dorsal fin. Some local fishers do not 
differentiate between the species calling both “Madanm dilo”.

Craig, M.T. et al. (2011). Groupers of the World - a field and market guide. NISC (Pty) Ltd, South Africa. ISBN: 978-1-920033-11-8
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2018). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/7361 (06/11/18).
Nevill, J.E.G. (2018). Artisanal fishery catch database (2017-2018).
Russell, B. (2018). Epinephelus retouti. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132794A100557802.en. (06/03/19).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Epinephelus retouti, Red-tipped grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/epinephelus-retouti-bleeker-1868/ (edited 05/08/22).