Epinephelus striatus (Bloch 1792)

Caudal fin rounded in juveniles. Dorsal fin notched between forward spines; 3rd or 4th spine the longest. Bases of soft dorsal and anal fins covered with scales and thick skin; scales small and greatly overlapping. Ground color tawny in individuals in shallow water, shading to pinkish or red in those from deeper water, sometimes with an orange cast. Can change color pattern in a few minutes from almost white to uniformly dark brown depending on mood. Third and fourth vertical bars branch above lateral line forming a W-shaped mark. Several distinct black spots below and behind eye and a characteristic `tuning-fork shaped stripe on top of head, dividing just behind the orbits. (see also Refs. 5221, 5222, 5227 and 2458).

Most males and females display a bicolored pattern during spawning. Courtship behavior involves vertical spiral movement, short vertical runs followed by rapid aggregation then rapid dispersal and horizontal runs near the bottom. Sex reversal reportedly between 30 and 80 cm SL. Some primary males found recently (Ref. 5222). Pelagic spawner (Ref. 31572).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 18; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs from the shoreline to at least 90 m depth. Usually close to caves (Ref. 9710). The juveniles are common in seagrass beds, feeding mainly on crustaceans; adults common in shallow coral reefs (Ref. 5222). Observed hiding among the leaves of the turtle grass Thalassia testudinium, presumably in wait of prey; the coloration may serve primarily to conceal it from preys rather than from predators (Ref. 5230). Carnivore (Ref. 57616). Pelagic recruits feeding habits ranged from filter feeding to particulate feeding and piscivory (Ref. 59316). Their prey ranged from dinoflagellates to fish larvae, >0.9 cm SL (Ref. 59316).

Occurs from the shoreline to at least 90 m depth. Usually close to caves (Ref. 9710). Juveniles are common in seagrass beds. Diet comprises mainly of fishes (54%) and crabs (23%) and lesser amounts of other crustaceans and mollusks. It is solitary and mainly diurnal; but may sometimes form schools. Spawns near the new moon with up to 30,000 aggregating at certain spawning sites (Ref. 9710). The least wary and most friendly of all the groupers (Ref. 5226). Heavily fished and vulnerable to overfishing, particularly when migrating or aggregating to spawn (Ref. 9710). The most important commercial grouper in the West Indies. Marketed fresh, mostly between 2 to 10 kg (Ref. 3708).

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums