Fish Identification Photos: Star Studded Grouper, Epinephelus niphobles: The adult Star Studded Grouper is a uniform chocolate brown and juveniles are chocolate brown covered with a series of white spots (as pictured below).

The caudal and pectoral fins are normally lighter in color than the anal and pelvic fins. The Star Studded Grouper has a large head, characteristic and identifying eleven dorsal spines, of which the second is the longest, a dark brown band or mustache above the upper jaw and a thin line at the base of the tail.

An identification key for the Star Studded Grouper is that the rear nostril is larger than the front nostril. It reaches three-and-a-half feet in length and up to 20 pounds.

The Star Studded Grouper is found on rocky reefs adjacent to sandy bottoms up to 1,500 feet deep in the water column. It is a deep water species and not much is known about its behavioral patterns.

The Star Studded Grouper is found in all Mexican waters with the exception of the extreme northern portion of the Sea of Cortez.

The Star Studded Grouper can be easily confused with the Black or Ten-Spine Grouper, Epinephelus exsul (ten dorsal spines, white tail), the Gulf Coney, Cephalopholis acanthistius (nine dorsal spines, third, fourth, and fifth elongated), and the Olive or Northern Grouper, Epinephelus cifuentesi (uniform brown, small rear nostril).

The Star Studded Grouper is one of a group of sea basses and groupers comprising the Serranidae Family, which are known in Mexico as cabrillas and meros.

Star Studded Grouper, Epinephelus niphobles: A juvenile, caught with Capt. Pata of the panga Salomé, in 73-degree, 200-foot deep water, in January 2007, utilizing a Sabiki rig and a 4-inch light stick, 10 miles north of La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size, approximately 17 inches and 4 pounds, and it was a strong fighter. The first picture was taken upon collection. The second picture was taken 2 hours later. This is a confusing identification as the white spots fade quickly. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.