Epinephelus tauvina (Forsskål, 1775)

Maximum Length

Epinephelus tauvina can grow up to 75 cm (30 inches) in length.

Mouth Morphology

Individuals of this species have a wide, upward-facing mouth with relatively thick lips.

Base Body Coloration

Their heads and bodies are pale greenish grey or brown, covered in round spots that range in color from orange-red to dark brown.

Distinctive Markings

A cluster of black spots may be visible on the body at the rear base of the dorsal fin, and five darker vertical shaded bars may also be present on their bodies.

Similar Congeneric Species

This species is similar to E. corallicola and E. howlandi, but those two species have shorter bodies and less closely spaced spots.

Taxonomic Literature Confusion

Because of past confusion over species identification, much of the older literature (especially literature from before 1984) that references E. tauvina actually refers to other grouper species, including Epinephelus coioides, Epinephelus malabaricus and Epinephelus lanceolatus.

Common Name and General Distribution

The greasy grouper, the common name for Epinephelus tauvina, is distributed in the Red Sea, along the East African coast, east as far as the Pitcairn group, north to Japan, and south to Lord Howe Island.

Distribution Rarity Areas

It is not common in Fiji, Tonga, or French Polynesia.

Habitat and Depth Range

This species lives in clear-water areas on coral reefs at depths down to 50 m; juvenile individuals may enter reef flats, tidepools, and mangrove estuaries.