Hyporthodus niphobles
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Serranidae (Sea Basses and Groupers)
Hyporthodus
Hyporthodus niphobles
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Distinguished by the following characteristics: juveniles dark reddish brown with white spots in grid-like pattern of vertical series and horizontal rows on body and dorsal fin; caudal peduncle with visible dark saddle blotch; pale caudal and pectoral fins; dark brown anal and pelvic fins; black maxillary groove; adults dark brown lacking white spots; depth of body contained 2.3-2.7 times in SL; head length 2.2-2.5 times in SL; convex interorbital area; slightly produced angle of preopercle, with enlarged serrae; distinctly convex upper edge of operculum; vertically elongate posterior nostrils, 2-5 times larger than anterior nostrils; maxilla reaches to or beyond vertical at rear edge of eye; 2 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw (Ref. 89707). Striking features: none.
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: southern California to Peru. Misidentified as Epinephelus niveatus by some authors (Ref. 5995, 6852).
Habitat Associations
Marine. demersal. depth range 50-130 m.
Biology
Found on rocky reefs and soft bottoms (Ref. 89707). Reported to be often caught in shrimp trawls in central Gulf of California. Too rare to be of commercial interest.
Max length: 48.0 cm SL.
Reproductive mode: protogyny; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2016-11-20. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish.
References
Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall (1993) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):382 p.
Heemstra, P.C. (1995) Serranidae. Meros, serranos, guasetas, enjambres, baquetas, indios, loros, gallinas, cabrillas, garropas. p. 1565-1613. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome.
Craig, M.T. and P.A. Hastings (2007) A molecular phylogeny of the groupers of the subfamily Epinephelinae (Serranidae) with revised classification of the epinephelini. Ichthyol. Res. 54:1-17. DOI: 10.1007/s10228-006-0367-x
Craig, M.T., YJ. Sadovy de Mitcheson and P.C. Heemstra (2011) Groupers of the world: a field and market guide. North America: CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, xix, 356 p., A47 pages appendix. DOI: 10.1201-/9780429087899
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