With its very distinctive color pattern, Epinephelus flavocaeruleus is one of the easiest Epinephelus species to identify. Although it is not very common in the Maldives, it is occasionally taken by fishermen.
Details
§ 01
size
Common to 55 cm; max. 80 cm
color
Dark blue or grey with bright yellow markings. Yellow colour quite extensive in juveniles (including all fins and face) but much reduced in adults. Pelvic and caudal fins tipped with black.
This species is found on shallow coral reefs, with adults inhabiting deeper reefs down to depths of 150 m. Its diet consists of fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
distinctive characters
The dorsal fin has 11 spines and 16-17 rays, the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 rays, and the pectoral fin has 18-20 rays. The body is deep and compressed, with a body depth of 2.3-2.7 in standard length, and the interorbital area is convex. The preopercle is finely serrate, and the posterior nostrils of large adults are noticeably larger than the anterior ones. The caudal fin is truncate.