Epinephelus geoffroyi
Epinephelus geoffroyi, the Red Sea spotted grouper, is a species of marine fish in the genus Epinephelus in the grouper family. The species was first described in 1870. E. geoffroyi was previously considered a synonym of Epinephelus chlorostigma, but Randall et al. recognized it as a valid species in 2013.
Distribution and habitat
Epinephelus geoffroyi has a scattered distribution in the northwestern Indian Ocean. This species is found throughout the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In 2015, a wandering individual was recorded in the eastern Mediterranean, having entered it via the Suez Canal from the Red Sea as a Lessepsian migrant. Adults live around coral reefs and reefs on sandy bottoms, ranging in depth from.Description
Adult E. geoffroyi has a maximum size of more than. They begin to mature when they reach a length of about and are 3 years old; The average total length when switching sex is. The body is elongated, oval, has a beige colour with rounded black-brown spots covering the head and body, including on the fins. The caudal fin is rounded. The posterior edge of the caudal fin contains a row of dark spots. The pupil is surrounded by a ring bordered with yellow.Number of spines in the dorsal fin: 11; The number of soft-fin rays in the dorsal fin: 16 - 18; Number of spines in anal fin: 3; Number of soft-fin rays in anal fin: 8; Number of spines in the ventral fins: 1; Number of soft-fin rays in ventral fins: 5.
Epinephelus geoffroyi feeds on smaller fish, molluscs and crustaceans. They live alone. E. geoffroyi is a target of commercial fisheries.