Black Dotted Grouper

Preopercle with 1 - 4 distinctly enlarged serrae at its angle; upper edge of the operculum straight; nostrils subequal. Pectoral fins not fleshy. Pyloric caeca 12. Body and head yellowish brown dorsally, whitish ventrally, with numerous small dark brown to black dots on the upper sides, and 5 faint oblique bars, which may disappear in preservative; the chest and ventral parts of the head pale reddish orange. The fins are pale, with the rays darker than the membrane; the soft dorsal and caudal fins with narrow dark brown margin.

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154), over mud and sand substrata (Ref. 89707). Caught by trawling at depths ranging from 37 to 142 m. The small size and poor edible quality probably accounts for its low value in the markets.

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

分布於東印度洋至西太平洋區，包括爪哇、越南、海南島、香港、南中國海、日本南部及澳洲西北部等。台灣發現於澎湖海域。

具經濟性之食用魚。一般漁法以延繩網、底拖網及一支釣等捕獲。清蒸食用佳。

體長橢圓形，側扁而粗壯，標準體長為體高之2.9-3.4倍。頭背部斜直；眶間區平坦或微凸。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7-8+14-16。前鰓蓋骨後緣具1-4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48-51；縱列鱗數84-96。背鰭鰭棘部與軟條部相連，無缺刻，具硬棘XI，軟條15-16；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；尾鰭圓形。頭部及體背側黃褐色，體腹側白色，胸部及頭部腹面淡橘紅色；體側具5條不顯之暗色橫帶，橫帶中部較暗色形成四角形斑塊，眼後到鰓蓋具一寬縱帶與前述斑塊相對成一直線；頭及體背側具褐色至黑色小點。各鰭淡色。

主要棲息於砂泥底質之水域。生態習性尚不甚清楚。