Depth
Epinephelus · Bony Fish

White Grouper

Epinephelus aeneus

5-200m
Depth Range
120cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
5-200m
Depth Range
120cm
Max Size
Rocky reef / Sandy
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
EN
IUCN Status
Low
Sighting Likelihood
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
GenusEpinephelus
Speciesaeneus

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationLarge grouper with a heavy body and wide jaws. Pale grey to brownish body with faint darker bars or blotches. Relatively plain compared to other Mediterranean groupers. Rounded tail.
  • SizeUp to 120 cm total length and 25 kg, commonly 40 to 70 cm.
  • Social HabitSolitary and territorial. Occupies caves and overhangs on rocky reefs.
  • HabitatRocky reefs, boulder fields, and deep structures.
  • Depth10 to 200 m, most common between 20 and 80 m.
  • Feeds OnFish, cephalopods, and crustaceans caught from ambush.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic from Portugal to South Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionA large, pale-coloured grouper that is less commonly encountered than the dusky grouper. It tends to inhabit slightly deeper water and is more plain in appearance. Like all Mediterranean groupers, populations have declined due to fishing pressure and it is now uncommon in many areas.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found on rocky reefs, sandy bottoms, and mixed substrates from shallow coastal waters down to 200 metres. In the Mediterranean, increasingly recorded around Malta and the central basin as waters warm.

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

Rocky overhangs, caves, and sandy patches adjacent to reef structures. Juveniles may be found in shallower seagrass beds and lagoons.

Encounter Tips

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

White Grouper species card

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Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Epinephelus aeneus may be encountered will be added as sighting data is collected.

IUCN Red ListEndangered

Conservation Status

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

Source: IUCN Red List
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