Unidentified Fish

[Pipehorse]

These pictures were taken in South Palm Beach County Florida. Depth 50 feet, on the reef ledge, 85F, during the day, specimen was 10 to 12 inches overall length. Specimen was relatively unafraid, though finally moved away when I got in really close. Fish I do not believe it is: Juv Yellowmouth Grouper, Graysby, Red Hind, Rock Hind, Juv Tiger Grouper, Juv Yellowfin Grouper, of course I could be wrong. I have done a lot of REEF surveys really have not seen anything like this fish before. Anybody want to take a guess?

 

[DennisW]

The closest thing it looks like is a Graysby, but I don't believe it is a Graysby. The spots along the dorsal fin are missing. An Interesting find. I will be interested to find out what this fish is as well.

 

[Pipehorse]

Found the answer, this fish is a White Speckled Grouper, Speckled Grouper, Speckled Rock Cod take your pick. Epinephelus ongus, native to west indo pacific waters not north west atlantic waters.

 

[DennisW]

Very good, you figured it out. Another fish that has invaded the Atlantic and does not belong here.

 

[MB]

Very good, you figured it out. Another fish that has invaded the Atlantic and does not belong here.

Maybe he's just stopping by for a visit... after all, it is Florida...

 

[billsreef]

For more likely to be a color phase of a Graysby or a juvenile Goliath Grouper.

 

[Pipehorse]

yes exactly what I thought when the fish was first observed. It has the very rounded tail of a Graysby, behaved like a Graysby, but no small black spots on the back. Maybe a juvenile Goliath Grouper there are not a lot of good images of Juvenile Goliaths.

However do a google image search of Epinephelus ongus and you will see its the same as the photos posted above.

Anyway its already ready been accepted as an invasive species sighting by the USGS.

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I think a juvenile grouper. Not sure which flavor, though...

 

[ryan115]

As much as I hate to think about established exotics. I do not believe that this fish is from our local waters, it is not a juvenile E. itajara or C. cruentata. Looking through some Pacific fish keys E. ongus does look like a posibility.

 

[billsreef]

There is a lot of variation, and overlap of that variation, in the coloration of those particular species to make that distinction alone somewhat difficult to use for identification purposes. Would take getting hands on the actual specimen to sort out the meristics.