Depth
Epinephelus · Bony Fish

Gold Blotch Grouper

Epinephelus costae

0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
0-40m
Depth Range
Variable
Max Size
Reef & Open
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Genus Epinephelus
Species costae

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationModerately large grouper with an elongated body. Golden-brown body covered with irregular darker blotches. A prominent golden-yellow spot or blotch on the flank below the dorsal fin gives the species its name.
  • SizeUp to 80 cm total length, commonly 30 to 50 cm.
  • Social HabitSolitary and territorial. Occupies caves and overhangs on rocky reefs.
  • HabitatRocky reefs, boulder fields, and sandy areas near reef structures.
  • Depth10 to 200 m, most common between 20 and 80 m.
  • Feeds OnFish, cephalopods, and crustaceans caught near the bottom.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic from Portugal to Angola, including the Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionA beautifully marked grouper with a characteristic golden blotch on its flanks. Less frequently encountered than the dusky grouper, it tends to occupy slightly different habitat, often near the boundaries between reef and sand. Like other groupers, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found across the Mediterranean, inhabiting reef & open environments. Active from the surface down to 40m depth.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Reef & Open habitats, typically at depths of 0-40m. Most commonly encountered by divers at the shallower end of its range.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Gold Blotch Grouper species card

Biology

Behaviour & Diet

Feeding Strategy

Hunts fish and cephalopods using ambush tactics from rocky shelter. Engulfs prey with a rapid suction strike created by opening its large mouth.

Ambush predator

Reproduction

A protogynous hermaphrodite that transitions from female to male. Forms spawning aggregations in late summer at specific deep-water sites.

Hermaphrodite

Behaviour & Defence

Retreats deep into caves and structural complexity when threatened. Its large size and powerful build make it virtually immune to most predators.

Cave dweller

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

The following dive sites offer strong habitat match for Epinephelus costae. All are accessible on a guided dive with diveshack.

5-30m
North Malta

Cirkewwa

Rocky reef with caves, arches and ledges hosting a rich diversity of reef species.

View dive site ›
5-50m
Gozo

Blue Hole

One of the Med's most famous reef dive sites. Rocky walls and archways covered in life.

View dive site ›
18-36m
South Malta

Um El Faroud

The wreck lies on a sandy bottom surrounded by rocky reef -- a diverse habitat attracting reef species.

View dive site ›
IUCN Red List Least Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes to prey availability.

Source: iNaturalist Guide #888
by Lesley Clements (CC BY-SA)
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide