Family : Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) , subfamily: Epinephelinae
Order : Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Potato grouper
Fish Name : Epinephelus tukula
Max size : 200 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2872); max. published weight: 110.0 kg (Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 10 - 150 m
Climate : tropical; 35°N - 32°S
Global Importance : fisheries: subsistence fisheries
Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)
Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to southern Japan and Queensland, Australia. Also from the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. There are no records from Madagascar, Mauritius, Maldives, Laccadives, and Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Interorbital space slightly convex; preopercle rounded or sub angular, the serrae slightly enlarged; upper edge of the operculum almost straight; nostrils sub equal; maxilla reaches to or past vertical at rear edge of eye. Overall color is pale brownish gray with several dark brown to black widely-spaced blotches; head with smaller dark brown spots and streaks (many radiating from the eye); dark spots on fins small distally. Large adults may be nearly black.
Biology : Mainly found in deep reef channels and seamounts, in current prone areas (Ref. 48635). Juveniles may be found in tide pools (Ref. 5222). Feeds on reef fishes, skates, crabs, and spiny lobsters (Ref. 5222). Considered to be exceedingly territorial and very aggressive towards intruders. Vulnerable to spear fishers (Ref. 5222). Hand fed by divers in certain areas, but potentially dangerous to the inexperienced. In the Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253)
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 : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses
