Golden Grouper

Pale orange-red to orange-yellow or golden with red or yellow dots on head, anterodorsally on body, and on base of dorsal fin. Posterior margin of caudal fin with a pale blue edge and black submarginal line; posterior parts of dorsal and anal fins often with a narrow pale blue edge; further characterized by having ctenoid scales on body including most of abdomen; greatest body depth 2.5-3.0 in SL; rounded caudal fin; pelvic fins usually reaching anus, 1.6-2.0 in head length (Ref. 90102); head length 2.4-2.6 times in SL; interorbital area flat; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle serrate; scaly maxilla, reaching to or beyond vertical at rear edge of eye (Ref. 89707).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8 - 9

Found on steep seaward reefs (Ref. 9710) and coral reefs (Ref. 9137).

Rare species (Ref. 4319). Found on steep seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Museum specimens are lacking. Usually at depths of 100-250 m, but can occur in shallower water (Ref. 89707). Feeds mainly on crabs (Ref. 89972). Solitary (Ref 90102).

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

分布於印度-太平洋區，南非及西印度洋中的群島至中太平洋，北至日本。台灣分布於南部及西部海域。

罕見魚種。可食用，清蒸或煮湯皆宜。。

體長橢圓形，側扁，標準體長為體高之2.8-3.0倍。頭背部幾乎斜直；眶間區平坦或微凹陷。眼小，短於吻長。口大；上頜稍能活動，可向前伸出，末端延伸之眼後之下方；上下頜前端具小犬齒，下頜內側齒尖銳，排列不規則，可向內倒狀；鋤骨和腭骨具絨毛狀齒。前鰓蓋圓形，幼魚後緣略鋸齒狀，成魚則平滑；下鰓蓋及間鰓蓋後緣具微細鋸齒。體被細小櫛鱗；側線鱗孔數47-53；縱列鱗數94-121。背鰭連續，有硬棘IX枚，軟條14-16；臀鰭硬棘III枚，軟條8-9；腹鰭腹位，末端伸及肛門開口；胸鰭長於腹鰭，圓形，中央之鰭條長於上下方之鰭條；尾鰭圓形。體一致為橘紅色，有許多深紅色小點散在；各鰭亦一致為橘紅色。

主要棲息於面海礁區的陡坡區，水深20-250公尺處之水域。生態習性尚不甚清楚。

A deep-water species usually caught in depths over 100 m. Specimens are rare in museums.