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Species: Epinephelus clippertonensis, Clipperton grouper

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

pink-grey + white spots
D XI, 15-16, 3rd-4th spines longest
juvenile: fine mesh of dark spots + pale lines
scales: 46-50 around tail base, 16-18 above LL

Epinephelus clippertonensis Allen & Robertson, 1999

Clipperton grouper

Body robust, compressed; end of top jaw exposed; operculum edge with 3 flat spines; preoperculum without spines; 1 dorsal fin with XI spines, 15-16 rays, spines III-IV longest; anal fin with III spines; 15-16 dorsal rays; 8 anal rays; pectoral rays 18-20, usually 19, rarely 18; tail rounded; lateral line complete, ending at tail base, smoothly arched; scales rough, relatively small: 48-51 scales on lateral line, 46-50 around tail base, and 16-18 above the lateral line, often a few small imbedded scales on front of top jawbone.

Head and body pale grey to light grey-brown to pale pinkish brown, with white spots and flecks on head and body; large fish (males?) can switch to a bicolored pattern by darkening the rear half and lightening the front half of the body. Juveniles with dense small dark spots.

Size: 61 cm.

Habitat: coral reef.

Depth: 1-100 m.

Clipperton, the Revillagigedos, Rocas Alijos, and the tip of Baja.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom only
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Reef only
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Corals
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • No Data
Diet
  • Bony fishes
  • Data
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
Egg Type
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
  • No data
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • East Pacific endemic
  • Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Multiple oceanic islands endemic
  • Island (s)
  • Island (s) only
  • TEP oceanic island (s) endemic
  • All species
  • TEP endemic
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)
  • Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos)
  • Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 61
Depth Range Min
  • 1
Depth Range Max
  • 100