SERRANIDAE


Anyperodon leucogrammicus
(photo by Mark Strickland)


Anyperodon leucogrammicus
(Valenciennes, 1828)
Slender Grouper

D IX, 14-16; A III, 8-9; P1 15-17; P2 I, 5; LLp 61-72; GR 7-9 + 14-17.

Body elongate and markedly compressed; body depth much less than head length, 3.1-3.7 in SL; body width 2.3-2.8 in body depth. Head pointed, its length 2.3-2.5 in SL. No teeth on palatines. Color: adults greenish to brownish gray with numerous orangered spots on body, dorsal fin, and basal caudal fin. Longitudinal whitish bands or series of streaks often visible on postorbital head and body. Membranes of soft-rayed portions of dorsal and anal fins, and caudal fin clear. Longitudinal pale bluish gray stripes on a gold background in juveniles. Size: maximum length 60 cm. Distribution: widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, from Mozambique east to the Phoenix Islands, including Japan and Australia. Remarks: occurs on coral reefs in depths of 5 to 80 m.(Hiroyuki Motomura)