Description:

Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 14-15; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 9.

A full bodied grouper. Dorsal head profile convex. Interorbital area distinctly convex. Angular preopercle. Posterior nostrils 2-3 times larger than anterior nostrils. Maxilla 
reaches to below rear half of eye. Midlateral part of lower jaw with two rows of teeth. Pelvic fins sub- equal to or larger than pectoral fins. Caudal fin rounded.

Colour. A brownish to dark brown grouper with 8 broad dark brown bars. The first bar on the nape, the second at the dorsal fin origin and covering the first two dorsal spines; 
the last bar covering most of the caudal peduncle and the base of the last two or three dorsal fin rays. Pelvic fins and distal half of the soft dorsal and anal fins blackish 
brown. Faint dark band from eye to the middle opercle spine. Blackish maxillary streak present. Some specimens with narrow white margin at the corners of the caudal fin, the 
lower edge of the anal fin and the interior two thirds of the edge of the soft dorsal fin.

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 130 cm TL.

Habitat and Ecology:

Poorly known deep water species inhabiting rocky reefs on continental and island slopes as well as seamounts (depth 80-480 m, usually 80-300 m).
 

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the deep water hand line and sports fishery typically at the edge of the Mahé plateau. It is 
a rare component of the catch.

Notes:

A new species record for Seychelles, Nevill, J., Fourcroy, A. & Suleman, F. 2019.
 

References:

Bray, D.J. (2018). Hyporthodus octofasciatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3855 (17/03/19). 
Choat, J.H. (2018). Hyporthodus octofasciatus. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132772A46629145.en. (17/03/19).
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. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Hyporthodus-octofasciatus  (17/03/19).

Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G., Fourcroy, A. & Suleman, F. (2019). Hyporthodus octofasciatus, Eightbar grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/hyporthodus-octofasciatus-griffin-1926/ (edited 07/08/22).