Surge Grouper

Preopercle rounded, finely serrate; upper edge of the operculum sinuous; nostril subequal; maxilla reaches past vertical at rear edge of the eye. Pectoral fins fleshy. Head and body whitish, with small close-set blackish-brown spots, those on the rear part of the body coalesced to form irregular longitudinal bands. Four dark blotches usually at the base of the dorsal fin and a fifth forming a dark saddle blotch on the peduncle. Fins with small white spots and whitish margins, usually with a black submarginal band; body depth contained 2.9-3.4 times in SL; head length 2.4-2.6 times in SL (Ref. 89707).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

This shallow-water species is more common on atolls than high islands, and usually found in exposed outer-reef areas. Juveniles and occasionally adults are collected from tidepools. Feeds on crustaceans (mainly grapsid crabs), octopi, and fishes.

This shallow-water species is more common on atolls than high islands, and usually found in exposed outer-reef areas. Not dependent on coral cover (Ref. 89707). Juveniles and occasionally adults are collected from tide pools. Feeds on crustaceans (mainly grapsid crabs), octopi, and fishes.

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this genus