Description:

Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 14-15; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.

Large full-bodied grouper. Nostrils are close together. Triangular posterior nostrils, 4-7 times larger than anterior nostrils in adults. Maxilla extends well posterior to 
eye. 3-4 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw, inner teeth twice as long as outer teeth.

Colour. Light yellow brown to pinkish-brown background colour (significant colour variation), small hexagonal spots on head becoming larger posteriorly. Spots on body are 
rounded with diffuse edge. Five vertical series of irregular dark brown blotches that can form irregular bars. Brown spots, on dark blotches much darker than spots in between 
blotches. Small black saddle blotch on rear half of caudal peduncle. Small juveniles (<8 cm) have small hexagonal spots on the head and body that become larger posteriorly 
and on vertical fins. 

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range 50 - ? cm. Max length 120 cm TL

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabit shallow coral reefs, channels, outer reef slopes and rocky bottoms (depth 1-60 m). Juveniles in seagrass beds. Feeds on fishes, crabs, and cephalopods. A protogynous 
hermaphrodite females change sex at about 68 cm total length. Forms large spawning aggregations including in Seychelles (Bijoux et al. 2013), where it often aggregates  
with Epinephelus polyphekadion. 

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the handline and the fish trap fishery (juveniles occur in the trap fishery in certain 
locales), but is a rare component of the catch particularly on the Mahé Plateau. The rarity of adults on the Mahé plateau relative to the banks of outer islands is likely 
indicative of chronic overfishing.

Notes:

 

 

 

References:

Bijoux, J. et al. (2013). Spawning aggregation dynamics of brown-marbled grouper and camouflage grouper at a remote Indian Ocean atoll. Endangered Species Research 22: 145-157.
Bray, D.J. (2018). Epinephelus fuscoguttatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4670 (15/01/19). 
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. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Epinephelus-fuscoguttatus.html (15/01/19).
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
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Rhodes, K. et al. 2018. Epinephelus fuscoguttatus. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T44673A100468078.en. (15/01/19).

Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, Brown-marbled grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/epinephelus-fuscoguttatus-forsskal-1775/ (edited 27/07/22).