Epinephelus tukula

(Morgans, 1959)

Vernacular names
English : Potato grouper
French : Mérou patate

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Perciformes
Family : Serranidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species can reach up to 2 meters in length for a weight of 110 kg. Long snout and nearly flat forehead. Flanks covered with potato-shaped dark grey-black blotches. Coloration light grey to nearly white. Faint band and dots on face.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and East Africa to south Japan and north Australia. Its repartition within this range is fairly patchy. Lives in deep reef channels prone to current, tide pools, to 400 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a large range but is globally rare. It is locally targeted by fisheries and caught as bycatch. The impact has yet to be studied.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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