Epinephelus aeneus

Size range: 60 to 120 cm

Common size: 80 cm

Habitat:

• Hard - rocks mixed with sediment, wrecks, artificial reefs
• Soft - sand , silt, mud
• Vegetation - sea grass

Depth range:

• 20-200 m

Water column position:

• Benthic

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary

Colors & patterns:

• general description - rather elongated body for grouper. brown/grey/dark green color with vertical (relatively thick) white lines.
• identifying criteria - 1) two white (or bluish) lines behind the eye.

2) Tail rounded almost straight in large adults.

• Juveniles - often display highly contrasting dark lines
• Special patterns - might become very pale on sand or while approached

Behavior:

1. Whether the species is:

• Reef/bottom associated - related to sites it inhabits (e.g - artificial reef)

2. Activity - ??

• Diurnal
• Nocturnal
• Both

3. Approach:

• variable- generally curious as all groupers but may be shy as well.

4. A concise description of any unique behavior (breeding, nesting, cleaning etc.).

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary

5. Feeding characteristic - piscivore (?)

Native/Exotic:

Native