Saddletail grouper

Taxobox
name = Saddletail grouper
status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Serranidae
genus = "Epinephelus"
species = "E. daemelii"
binomial = "Epinephelus daemelii"
binomial_authority = (Günther, 1876)

The saddletail grouper or spotted black groper, "Epinephelus daemelii", is a large marine fish of the family serranidae, found off south east Australia and northern New Zealand, at depths down to 50 m. Its length is up to 2 m.

The saddletail grouper is a large solid-bodied fish with a sloping snout and large underslung mouth containing sharp conical teeth. It inhabits caves and crevices in rocky reefs and may occupy the same crevice for its entire life.

The body colouring is variable, from a dark green-black with pale yellow or whitish spots, to a green brown with irregular yellow splotches and bands. A fish can change these colours in a few seconds depending on its mood and the colour of the background.

They are carnivores eating crustaceans, other fish, and octopus.

References

*
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, "Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand", (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
* [http://www.blackcod.net blackcod.net - Epinephelus daemelii Information and Resources]