Areolate Grouper

The areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus), commonly referred to as the yellowspotted rockcod, areolate rockcod, green-spotted rock-cod, squaretail grouper, or squaretail rock-cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish within the subfamily Epinephelinae and family Serranidae, which also includes anthias and sea basses. This species is prevalent in coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region and is subject to both aquaculture and commercial fishing. Currently, there are no identified threats to its survival.

The areolate grouper is a substantial marine species, reaching lengths of up to 47 cm and weighing approximately 1.4 kg. It typically resides near coral reefs, within a depth range of 6 to 200 meters. The areolate grouper is characterized by its whitish to gray coloration interspersed with rounded brownish spots and can be easily distinguished by a narrow, white, straight margin on its truncate tail. It possesses 11 dorsal spines, 15 to 17 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 8 anal soft rays.

This species is occasionally mistaken for the brownspotted grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma), which inhabits the 🌊 Persian Gulf and several other regions with many-spotted species.

Geographically, the areolate grouper is distributed within tropical regions ranging from 35°N to 33°S and 29°E to 180°E. Its range extends across the Indo-Pacific, from the 🌊 Red Sea and 🌊 Persian Gulf to Natal, 🇿🇦 South Africa, and eastward to 🇫🇯 Fiji. It is observed as far north as 🇯🇵 Japan and southward to the Arafura Sea and northern 🇦🇺 Australia. It has been recently recorded in 🇹🇴 Tonga but appears absent in certain undefined locations. Notably, a single specimen was identified in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of 🇮🇱 Israel in 2015.

In its natural habitat, this grouper is predominantly found in seagrass beds or on fine sediment bottoms near rocky reefs, dead coral, or alcyonarian corals within shallow continental shelf waters. Juvenile fish are typically encountered at depths up to 80 meters, with eggs and early larvae presumed pelagic.

The areolate grouper displays protogynous hermaphroditism; individuals initially mature as females, transitioning to males upon reaching maturity. Maturity is attained at a fork length of 22 cm, with spawning predominantly occurring in May, June, October, and December.

In the wild, grouper larvae consume copepods and other small zooplankton, while adult areolate groupers primarily feed on fish and benthic invertebrates, including prawns and crabs.

Aquaculture practices include raising approximately 16 species of groupers, including the areolate grouper. The predominant method involves floating net cages, supported by a frame of plastic pipe, wood, or other materials, anchored to the seafloor. This approach is both economically viable and scalable, though it lacks control over external water quality and predators, as well as water temperature, which significantly influences growth rates.