Fish
Streakyspot Rockcod
Epinephelus longispinis
A medium-sized grouper of KZN reefs, pale brown and covered in close-set dark spots and streaks.
Also known as longspine grouper, streaky rockcod, streakyspot grouper
- Typical size
- Commonly 30-55 cm
- Habitat
- Rocky and coral reefs
- Depth
- Roughly 20-150 m
The streakyspot rockcod is a robust grouper with a pale brownish body densely marked with small dark spots that run together into short streaks, and it has the deep body and large mouth typical of the rockcods. It is an ambush predator, lying near the reef and engulfing fish and crustaceans with a rapid gulp.
It lives on rocky and coral reefs off KwaZulu-Natal, often over deeper offshore ledges and drop-offs where it shelters in caves and overhangs. As with all rockcods it is slow-growing and site-attached, which leaves it vulnerable to overfishing, so restraint and adherence to bag and size limits are important.