Family : Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) , subfamily: Epinephelinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Dusky grouper
Fish Name : Epinephelus marginatus
Max size : 150 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 12382); max. published weight: 60.0 kg (Ref. 5222); max. reported age: 50 years
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 8 - 300 m
Climate : subtropical; 54°N - 43°S
Global Importance : fisheries: highly commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.03-0.09; tmax=50; tm=5)Distribution : Eastern Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean: throughout the Mediterranean Sea and from the British Isles (Ref. 48610) round to the southern tip of Africa to southern Mozambique and Madagascar. Southwest Atlantic: southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8
Biology : Prefers rocky bottoms (Ref. 5222). Solitary and territorial (Ref. 12382). Juveniles are found closer to shore (Ref. 48605) in rocky tidal pools (Ref. 48609). Feeds on crabs and octopi; larger individuals feed on a greater proportion of fishes, the majority of which are reef-associated species (Ref. 6842). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Forms spawning aggregations (Ref. 55367). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 171). Readily caught by anglers (Ref. 5222). Does not adapt well in an aquarium (Ref. 12382)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C.
Main Ref : Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : questionable
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses