Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture (2+1)

CROMILEPTES ALTIVELIS (Humpback grouper)

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

A moderate-sized, compressed serranid fish; anterior part of head low and flattened, its dorsal profile deeply concave behind eyes. Canine teeth completely absent. Preoperculum finely serrated along its upper edge, but without any enlarged spinules at angle. 2 flat spines on operculum. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 18 to 19 soft rays; soft dorsal fin rays long, about half the length of head, slightly longer than the longest fin spine. Anal fin with 3 spines and 9 to 11 soft rays. Caudal fin rounded.

Colour: body light brown with numerous dark brown spots; head and all fins similarly spotted; with age the relative size of spots decreases, and the number of spots increases.