Species: Epinephelus adscensionis, Rock Hind, Rock Hind Grouper

Epinephelus adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765)

Rock Hind, Rock Hind Grouper

Body robust, compressed, deepest at origin of dorsal fin, depth < head length; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed, without bony knob at lower rear corner; teeth depressible; sides of roof of mouth with teeth; front and rear nostrils ~equal; operculum edge with 3 flat spines; preoperculum serrate, with larger serrate at angle; 23-28 gill rakers; dorsal fin XI, 16-18, spine IV or V longest, longer than longest ray, membranes between spines indented, length of base of soft part not longer than that of spiny part; anal fin III, 8; pectoral fin symmetrically rounded, 18-20; origin of pelvic behind pectoral base, fin shorter than pectoral fin; tail rounded; body scales smooth, ~50 on lateral line.

Adult: head and body yellowish-brown to greenish, covered with red-brown spots and scattered pale blotches; 3-5 dark saddles along top of back; a black blotch on top of tail base; sometimes a dark stripe from snout through and behind eye. Juveniles with fewer and relatively larger dark spots, and more obvious pale spotting, 2 black saddles on upper back, 1 on tail base.

Reaches 62 cm; 4.1 kg; and 33 years.

Lives on reefs.

Depth range: 2-189 m.

E, central and W Atlantic; N Carolina to Brazil.