Palemargin Grouper

Characterized by grey brown color with scattered reddish brown to black spots; narrow pale margins on dark grey fins; body scales ctenoid, except cycloid scales dorsally and ventrally; body with auxiliary scales; greatest depth of body 2.8-3.2 in SL; rounded caudal fin; pelvic fins, 1.9-2.3 in head length (Ref. 90102); head length 2.3-2.6 times in SL; interorbital area flat to slightly convex, almost straight dorsal head profile; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, ventral serrae slightly enlarged; straight upper edge of operculum; maxilla reaches past rear edge of eye; 2 or 3 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 089707).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 17; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Found on mud or rocky or cobble bottoms (Ref. 089707). The species appears to be one of the rarest groupers in the Indo-Pacific region, nothing has been published on its biology. Solitary (Ref 90102).

fisheries: of no interest

分布於西太平洋區，包括印尼、菲律賓、台灣、所羅門群島及新不列顛等。台灣東部海域有產。

中小型石斑魚，不是經濟性魚種。偶以延繩釣或底拖網等捕獲，產量極為稀少。可食用。

體長橢圓形，側扁而粗壯，標準體長為體高之3.0-3.5倍。頭背部斜直；眶間區微凹陷。眼小，短於吻長。口大；上下頜前端具少數大犬齒，兩側齒細尖，可向後倒伏。鰓耙數8+11。前鰓蓋骨後緣具鋸齒，下緣光滑。鰓蓋骨後緣具3扁棘。體被細小櫛鱗。背鰭鰭棘部與軟條部相連，無缺刻，具硬棘XI，軟條17；臀鰭硬棘III枚，軟條8；腹鰭腹位，末端延伸不及肛門開口；胸鰭圓形，中央之鰭條長於上下方之鰭條，且長於腹鰭，長於或等於後眼眶長；尾鰭圓形。頭部及體側褐色，其上散佈8-9列黑色點狀斑縱帶；背鰭、臀鰭及腹鰭亦具黑色班點，尾鰭具黑緣。

主要棲息於泥質或石礫區的水域，棲息深度一般在0-30公尺間。極為罕見之石斑種類之一，生態習性不曾被發表過。