Blacktip Grouper

Epinephelus fasciatus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Epinephelidae
Genus: Epinephelus
Species: Epinephelus fasciatus

The blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus) is a red-barred grouper with black tips on the spines of its dorsal fin. Its body is pale to reddish with darker vertical bars.

It grows to about 40 cm and hunts small fish and crustaceans, mostly at dawn and dusk. It often rests on the bottom watching for prey.

In the Philippines it is common on reefs and rubble slopes.

Photo: Roger Rittmaster, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist