Tiger Grouper

The brown-marbled grouper, also known as the tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus), is a benthic marine species within the Serranidae family, commonly referred to as groupers.

Epinephelus fuscoguttatus is a medium-sized fish, reaching up to 120 cm in length, with an average size around 50 cm. The species exhibits a robust body, laterally compressed with a sharp head profile. It features a prominent mouth with numerous small teeth and front canines. The fish displays a pale yellowish-brown color with numerous irregular dark brown or grey blotches, complemented by small dark brown spots. Its fins are characteristically large and rounded.

This species may be easily mistaken for a closely related counterpart, Epinephelus polyphekadion. The distinctions are more pronounced in mature specimens, which can be identified by a small black saddle on the caudal peduncle, a visible notch above the eyes when viewed laterally, and a considerable thickness from the front of the dorsal fin to the ventral area beneath the pectoral fins.

The geographic distribution of the brown-marbled grouper spans the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, from the eastern coasts of Africa to the central 🌊 Pacific Ocean, inclusive of the 🌊 Red Sea. However, it is notably absent in the 🌊 Persian Gulf, Hawaii (🇺🇸 United States), and 🇵🇫 French Polynesia.

As an inhabitant of rich, clear waters, this grouper is typically found near coral or rocky reefs, lagoons, and external slopes, at depths up to 60 meters (approximately 200 feet). The brown-marbled grouper is carnivorous, primarily preying on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, employing ambush predation tactics.

This species is solitary and sedentary, maintaining a defined territory and exhibiting nocturnal behavior, with peak activity occurring at sunrise and sunset. It has a relatively long lifespan for a fish, potentially living up to 40 years. As a protogynous hermaphrodite, females of the species have the capacity to transform into males over their lifetime.

Since 2004, the brown-marbled grouper has been classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Its size and resilience make it valuable in the live food fish market. Nonetheless, the species' biological characteristics render it particularly susceptible to overfishing. During spawning periods, the grouper forms aggregations that are highly attractive targets for fishermen. Due to the species’ extended lifespan and low population density in natural reef habitats, its population recovery is slow and weak.

Targeted fishing of larger individuals, particularly males, could disrupt the sex ratio and impair fertilization rates. Similarly, overfishing fertile females diminishes their capacity to sustain juvenile populations. Although hatcheries can culturally propagate brown-marbled groupers, they rely on wild-caught breeding stock, which negatively impacts the wild population. Additionally, ciguatera toxin presence in the flesh limits its fishing in certain geographical regions.

Recently, multiple states with known spawning aggregations, including 🇮🇩 Indonesia, Papua 🇵🇬 New Guinea, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, and Palau, have implemented protective measures and sustainable fishing practices to help conserve this species.