Epinephelus quinquefasciatus (Bocourt, 1868)
Pacific goliath grouper
Epinephelus quinquefasciatus
photo by Castellanos-Galindo, G.A.

Family:  Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Max. size:  250 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 100 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific. Gulf of California to Peru (Ref. 5222).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Distinguished by the following characteristics: generally brownish yellow, grey or greenish; head, dorsal part of body and fins with small black spots, becoming smaller with growth; robust, elongate body, greatest width more than half of body depth, distinctly less than head length; body depth contained 2.7-3.4 times in SL; head length 2.3-2.9 times in SL; extremely broad head; flat interorbital; rounded preopercle, finely serrate; posterior and anterior nostrils round and subequal; scaly maxilla, reaching well past eye; 3-5 rows of subequal teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw; absence of canines at front of jaws (Ref. 89707).
Biology:  Inhabits a variety of habitats in depths of up to 100 m (Ref. 89707).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 22 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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