Dot Dash Grouper

Distinguished by the following characteristics: juveniles are pale yellowish grey in color, with oval black blotch on body between bases of the 3rd to 9th dorsal fin spines and extending to the edge of the fin between 1st and 7th spines; semicircular pale band passes ventrally around the oval black blotch and isolates it from the dark brown band that begins broadly on nape and bifurcates just behind operculum, upper branch curving dorsally and expanding broadly over the basal half of the dorsal fin between 9th spine and 4th soft ray, lower branch also curving dorsally and expanding at the base of the last 4 dorsal-fin rays; presence of 2nd curved band, parallel to the one above, runs from interorbital area and rear edge of the eye to a black saddle spot on caudal peduncle; 3rd narrow dark brown band, from lower edge of eye to the subopercle and continues as a series of dark dots along ventral part of the body to the base of caudal fin; pale yellow fins, except where dark markings occur on dorsal fin; adults with faint or absent dark spots on body; fins are yellowish brown, triangular interspinous dorsal fin margins abruptly orange-yellow or brownish yellow; soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins shading to blackish distally with bluish white edge; body depth contained 2.6-3.1 times in SL; head length 2.3-2.5 times in SL; interorbital area slightly convex; 2-5 enlarged serrae at preopercle angle; slightly convex upper edge of operculum; maxilla reaches about to vertical at rear edge of eye; maxilla in adults with step on edge; posterior nostrils of adults larger than anterior ones; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw; pyloric caeca 8-9 (Ref. 89707).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Lives in deep tolerable depths and rocky places (Ref. 9137).

Reef-associated (Ref. 89707). Inhabits relatively deep water (Ref. 5222). Feeds on fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 89707).

fisheries: subsistence fisheries

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起非洲東岸，東至越南、日本、韓國、南中國海及斐濟。台灣東北部海域有產。

棲所較深，產量不多，為非主要經濟性之食用魚。一般漁法以延繩釣、流刺網及一支釣等捕獲。紅燒食用佳。

體長橢圓形，側扁而粗壯，標準體長為體高之2.6-3.1倍。頭背部斜直；眶間區微凹。眼小，短於吻長。口大；上下頜前端具小犬齒或無，兩側齒細尖，下頜約2列。鰓耙數8-10+15-18，隨著成長而逐漸退化。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；側線鱗孔數54-63；縱列鱗數110-121。背鰭鰭棘部與軟條部相連，無缺刻，具硬棘XI，軟條14-15；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，但短於後眼眶長；尾鰭弧形。幼魚體淡灰黃色，具弧形寬縱帶，隨著成長，體呈淺褐色，頭部有3條暗色微斜縱帶，體側有4條暗色縱黑列；背、臀鰭軟條部及尾鰭均有白緣。

主要棲息於較深之岩礁區，棲息深度在45-375公尺間。雌魚在標準體長約35公分時成熟。以魚類、甲殼類及軟體動物為食。

Inhabits relatively deep water. Also caught with vertical line. Reported taken by hook-and-line at the bottom in 95 to 130 m on North Kenya Banks.