Brownspotted Grouper

Epinephelus geoffroyi, commonly known as the 🌊 Red Sea spotted grouper, is a marine species classified under the genus Epinephelus within the grouper family. This species was initially described in 1870. Formerly considered synonymous with Epinephelus chlorostigma, it was revalidated as a distinct species by Randall et al. in 2013.

Epinephelus geoffroyi exhibits a dispersed distribution primarily within the northwestern 🌊 Indian Ocean. Its presence is notable throughout the 🌊 Red Sea and the 🌊 Gulf of Aden. In 2015, an isolated specimen was documented in the eastern Mediterranean, having traversed the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt) from the 🌊 Red Sea as a Lessepsian migrant. The habitat of adult individuals includes coral reefs and sandy-bottomed reefs, at depths ranging from 3 to 32 meters (10 to 105 feet), with a common range of 10 to 20 meters.

The adult Epinephelus geoffroyi can exceed 50 centimeters (20 inches) in length. Sexual maturation occurs at approximately 28 centimeters (11 inches) and around three years of age, with sex change typically occurring at an average total length of 48 centimeters (19 inches). Morphologically, the fish possesses an elongated, oval body featuring a beige hue adorned with rounded black-brown spots on its head and body, except for the abdomen, and spots on the fins, which are orange on the lower body. The caudal fin is rounded, marked by a row of dark spots along its posterior edge. A yellow-bordered ring surrounds the pupil.

The species is characterized by the following fin structure: 11 dorsal fin spines, 16 to 18 soft dorsal fin rays, 3 anal fin spines, 8 soft anal fin rays, 1 ventral fin spine, and 5 soft ventral fin rays.

Epinephelus geoffroyi primarily feeds on smaller fish, molluscs, and crustaceans and tends to lead a solitary existence. It is also targeted by commercial fisheries.