Epinephelus goreensis (Valenciennes, 1830)
Dungat grouper
Epinephelus goreensis
photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP

Family:  Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Max. size:  140 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 80 - 300 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania (Ref. 5377) and Senegal to southern Angola.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Distinguished by the following characteristics: brownish head and body; 3-4 broad oblique bars on the dorsal part of the body and another on the dorsal half of the peduncle; 2 narrow faint dark bands extending posteriorly from the lower half of the eye; presence of dark moustache streak, not extending past the rear end on maxilla; body depth less than head length, depth contained 2.9-3.2 times in SL; head length 2.5-2.7 times in standard length; flat or slightly convex interorbital area; angular preopercle, 3-4 enlarged serrae at the angle, lowermost directed ventrally; serrate interopercle and subopercle; well developed middle and lower opercular spines, upper spine not apparent; approximately straight upper edge of operculum; maxilla reaches vertical at rear edge of eye; maxilla naked or with few minute scales dorsally; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw; posterior nostril about twice the size of anterior nostril (Ref. 89707).
Biology:  Reported to occur from a variety of habitats (rock, mud and sand). The adults live in relatively deeper waters (Ref. 5377). Little is known about its biology.
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 15 July 2017 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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