Description:

Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 15-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.

Small to medium-sized, moderately full-bodied grouper. Flate interorbital area. Dorsal head profile convex. Subequal posterior and anterior nostrils. Maxilla reaches to 
below rear third of eye or a little past eye. 2-4 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw. Rounded preopercle, finely serrate rear edge, with lower most serrae slightly 
enlarged. Upper edge of operculum straight. Ctenoid scales on body except cycloid anterodorsally above lateral line and on thorax and ventrally on abdomen. Rounded caudal fin.

Colour. Pale orange red to bright red fish with contrasting dark and light red bars on the back and flanks (5 to 6 dark bars the last on the peduncle). Distinctive black membrane 
between dorsal spines. Dorsal part of the head and nape including the upper jaw, dark red or reddish brown. Rim of the orbit black. Fins reddish orange.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range 16-? cm. Max Length: 40 cm.

Reef associated, common on outer reef slopes (depth range 4-160 m, but usually 20-45 m). Also occurs in protected bays. In Seychelles, it is commonly seen resting in open 
rocky areas more than in dense coral areas (Howlett et al. 2016).  Feeds on fish, shrimp, crabs and octopus. Recorded to form spawning aggregations. Exhibits a combination of 
simultaneous and sequential hermaphroditism. Smaller individuals within a social group are simultaneous hermaphrodites, while the largest often lose female function and 
reproduce exclusively as a male.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line and trap fisheries. It is a frequent though not particularly abundant component 
of the catch. 

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.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Epinephelus-fasciatus.html (06/01/19).
Heemstra, P.C. & Randall, J.E. (1993). Groupers of the World. Vol. 16 FAO Species Catalogue. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125, Volume 16. FIR/S125 Vol. 16
Howlett, S.J. et al. (2016). Linking Protection with the Distribution of Grouper and Habitat Quality in Seychelles. Journal of Marine Biology. Volume 2016, Article ID 7851425, 
10 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7851425
Law, C. (2018). Epinephelus fasciatus. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132817A100544403.en. (06/01/19)
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Epinephelus fasciatus, Blacktip grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/epinephelus-fasciatus-forsskal-1775/  (revised 26/07/22).