Appearance
The fish grows up to 75 cm in length. Its head and body are pale greenish grey or brown with round spots, varying from orange-red to dark brown. A group of black spots may be visible on the body at the base of the rear of the dorsal fin. Five vertical darker shaded bars may also be present on the body. It is similar to "E. corallicola" and "E. howlandi", which, however, have shorter bodies and spots less closely spaced.Due to confusion about identifying species, much of the earlier literature referring to "E. tauvina" may actually refer to other species of grouper, including "Epinephelus coioides, Epinephelus malabaricus and Epinephelus lanceolatus.
Distribution
The greasy grouper occurs in the Red Sea and the East African coast, east to the Pitcairn group, north to Japan, and south to Lord Howe Island. Records from the south China Sea, Taiwan, Australia, and various islands off North America exist.The species inhabits clear water areas on coral reefs, although juveniles may venture into reef flats, tidepools and mangrove estuaries. The greasy grouper feeds on small fish and sometimes crustaceans.
Habitat
The greasy grouper occurs in the Red Sea and the East African coast, east to the Pitcairn group, north to Japan, and south to Lord Howe Island. Records from the south China Sea, Taiwan, Australia, and various islands off North America exist.The species inhabits clear water areas on coral reefs, although juveniles may venture into reef flats, tidepools and mangrove estuaries. The greasy grouper feeds on small fish and sometimes crustaceans.
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