Epinephelus chlorostigma, Valenciennes 1828
Least concern by IUCN Grouper and Wrasse spcialist group.
One of the major species that exploited in the grouper fishery grounds at southwest coasts of India mainly at Kerala state.
From Talwar & Kacker (1984) and Heemstra & Randall (1993)
Body depth contained 2.8 to 3.3 times in standard length (for fish 12 to 51 cm standard length); body width contained 1.8 to 2.2 times in the depth. Head length contained 2.4 to 2.7 times in standard length; interorbital slightly convex; preopercle angular, with 4 to 7 enlarged serrae at angle; upper edge of operculum straight; posterior nostrils not noticeably larger than anterior nostrils; maxilla reaches about to vertical at rear edge of eye; maxilla scaly, with a low step on posterior part of ventral edge; midlateral part of lower jaw with 2 to 4 rows of teeth, the inner ones about twice the size of outer teeth. Gill rakers 8 to 11 on upper limb, 15 to 18 on lower limb, 23 to 29 total; gill rakers longer than gill filaments. pectoral fins usually slightly longer than pelvic fins, pectoral-fin length contained 1.6 to 2.0 times in head length; pelvic-fin length contained 1.8 to 2.3 times in head length; caudal-peduncle depth contained 3.0 to 3.6 times in head length; caudal fin truncate or slightly emarginate. Lateral-body scales ctenoid, with auxiliary scales; lateral-line scales 48 to 53; lateral-scale series 96 to 122. Pyloric caeca 26 to 52
Govindaraju and Jayasankar (2004) studied the taxonomic relationship among grouper species along south east and south west coast of India by RAPD fingerprinting. Genetic relationship was very close in between E. chlorostigma and E. bleekeri. Also highest genetic polymorphism was recorded in E. chlorostigma.
According to Premalatha (1989), length-weight relationship of E. chlorostigma (length range 32-65 cm) estimated as log W= -2.7115 + 3.0425 logL in females and log W = -1.7501 + 2.8497 logL in males.
North western Indian ocean population of E. chlorostigma looks more similar to E. gabriellae and E. polylepis (Randall and Heemstra, 1991)
Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 16 to 18 rays, the third or fourth spine longest, its length contained 2.4 to 3.2 times in head length, the interspinous membranes slightly to moderately incised; anal fin rounded or angular, with 3 spines and 8 rays, the third spine longer than second; pectoral-fin rays 17 to 19. Color generally brownish, with mumerous closly set hexagonal or roundish darker spots, the interspaces forming as a whole a ple reticulation.Fins spotted like the body (Talwar and Kacker, 1984).
Recorded size 63-75 cm.
Widespread in the central tropical Indo-west pacific. Occurs on the both West and East coast of India.
Found over a wide range of habitats like seagrass beds and outer reef slopes.
Max 29 years
Non-migratory
Protogynous, E. chlorostigma begins life as female, at age of reproduction female chage into males. Fertilization is external, open/substratum spawner and non guarder. Premalatha (1989) reported spawnning season in June-July at Indian coast.
Secondary consumer
Fish Lymphocystis Disease (FLD) cause due to iridovirus measuring 130-330 nm size, is a chronic viral infection that occurs among finfish worldwide over a wide range of water temperatures including tropical climates. It was reported in E. chlorostigma cultured in marine net cages in Guangdong, China (Chong and Chao, 1984).
Digenean parasites were reported in E. chlorostigma from Indo-Pacific region such as
Allopodocotyle epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1942) from Japan,
Cainocreadium epinepheli ((Yamaguti,1934) from Arabian Gulf (Saoud et al. 1986), and Japan (Yamaguti, 1942)
Hamacreadium mutabile (Linton, 1910) from red sea by Ramadan (1983),
Hamacreadium mutabile Linton, 1910 (as Hamacreadium epinepheli Yamaguti, 1934) from Pacific coast of Japan (Yamaguti, 1942),
Podocotyle epinepheli Yamaguti, 1942 from Naha, Okinawa Island by Yamaguti, 1958,
Prosorhynchus epinepheli Yamaguti, 1939 from Arabian Gulf by Saoud et al. (1988b) and from India by Hafeezullah and Siddiqi (1970).
Monogenean parasites reported from E. chlorostigma are
Benedenia lutjani (Whittington and Kearn, 1993), Benedenia sp. (Diesing, 1858), Diplectanum grouperi (Leong, Wong, Woo e Foo, 1999), Haliotrema epinepheli (Young, 1968), Megalocotyloides convolute , Megalocotyloides epinepheli (Bychowsky and Nagibina, 1976), Neobenedenia girellae (Hargis, 1955), Neobenedenia sp. (Yamaguti, 1963), Pseudorhabdosynochus coioidesis (Bu, Leong, Wong, Woo e Foo, 1999), Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli (Yamaguti,1958), Pseudorhabdosynochus lanteuensis from Thailand marine water by Leong (2001).
Haliotrema epinepheli Young, 1968 from Red sea by Paperna (1972)
Microcotyle mouwoi (Ishii et Sawada,1938) and Tetrancistrum sigani (Goto et kikuchi,1917) from Japan marine waters by Yamaguti, (1963).
Excellent food fish. Common in markets of Kerala and Tamilnadu region of India. Potential resorce for surimi preparation.
English : Brown spotted grouper
West coast of India
East coast of India
Marathi : Hekaru
Gujarathi : Vekhala, Vekharu
Tamil : Kalava
Konkani : Gobri
Kannada : Guri
Malayalam : Pulli Kalawa
Serranus chlorostigma Valenciennes in Cuv. and Val., 1828:352 (type locality: Seychelles)
From Talwar and Kacker, 1984
Caudal fin subtruncate, truncate or emarginate........
Depth of body 2.8 to 3.4 times in standard length......
Dorsal fin with 14 to 17 soft rays.....
Anal fin with 8 soft rays......
Middle opercular spine about equidistant from lower and upper spines.....
Dorsal fin with 15 to 17 soft rays, body with small or large spots or network of light lines......
Preopercular angle with several small serrae, body and fins with numerous small hexagonal spots or light network, caudal fin without white edge......
Small fishes and benthic crusteceans mainly crab juveniles and squilla
E. chlorostigma forms an important component of grouper fisher of the Kerala (Southwest coast, India) at depth range of 63-100 m. Caught by trawls, hand lines, traps, bottom set gill nets.
Serranus areolatus japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1842 (JS)
Epinephelus waandersi Bleeker, 1876
Serranus assabensis Giglioli, 1889 (JS)
Serranus areolatus Day, 1888
Serranus celebicus multipunctatus Kossman & Rauber, 1877 (AS)
Serranus (Hyposerranus) geoffroyi Klunzinger, 1884
Serranus geoffroyi Klunzinger, 1870 (SS)
Serranus assabensis Giglioli, 1888
Serranus geoffroyi Klunzinger, 1870 (JS)
Epinephelus chlorostigma Sauvage, 1891
Serranus reevesii Richardson, 1846 (JS)
Epinephelus chlorostigma Boulenger, 1895
Serranus tauvina (non Forsskal, 1775) (MN)
Epinephelus chlorostigma Steindachner, 1902
Serranus tauvina Geoffroy, 1809
Epinephelus chlorostigma Jordan and Evermann, 1902
Serranus areolatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828
Epinephelus chlorostigma Jordan and Richardson, 1910
Serranus waandersi Bleeker, 1859
Epinephelus chlorostigma Jordan, 1913
Serranus areolatus Klunzinger, 1870
JS= Junior synonym, SS= Senior synonym, AS= Ambiguous synonym, MN= Misapplied name