Hyporthodus septemfasciatus, the convict grouper, is a large species of grouper known from the waters of Japan, South Korea and China. Reports from western Australia[1] are treated as misidentifications of Hyporthodus octofasciatus.[2] This species is unique among the groupers that it can tolerate temperatures of down to 8°C (46.4°F) and can grow up to 155 cm and 62.8 kg (61 inches and 138 lbs). This reef-associated species is found at depths of 5-30 m (16 to 98 ft) and feeds on small fishes and crustaceans.[3] In Japan, it is prized as a food fish and commercially cultured.[4]
| Hyporthodus septemfasciatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Serranidae |
| Subfamily: | Epinephelinae |
| Genus: | Hyporthodus |
| Species: | H. septemfasciatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hyporthodus septemfasciatus (Thunberg, 1793) | |
This species is considered by some researchers to be a member of the genus Epinephelus.[2]