Epaulet Grouper

Epinephelus stoliczkae, commonly referred to as the epaulet grouper, is a tropical fish belonging to the family Serranidae and the genus Epinephelus. The species is characterized by a bifurcated dorsal fin, comprising an anterior segment with eleven spines and a posterior segment consisting of 16 to 18 rays. Additionally, the anal fin is equipped with three spine rays and eight soft rays.

Reports indicate that the Epaulet grouper can attain a maximum length of 38 centimeters. It closely resembles Epinephelus rivulatus, which can lead to potential misidentification between the two species.

This species is typically found at depths ranging from 5 to 50 meters. Its geographical distribution extends from the 🌊 Red Sea, including the Gulf of Suez, to the northwestern regions of the 🌊 Indian Ocean, reaching as far as the coastline of 🇵🇰 Pakistan. Notably, there have been no recorded observations of the Epaulet grouper in the 🌊 Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Aqaba.