Common name: Dusky Grouper.
Scientific name: Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)
Family: Serranidae
Distribution and Habitat: Benthic species extremely sedentery that lives in rocky bottoms from 8 to 200 m depth.
Description: It has a robust body, a large head and a thick-lipped mouth. The anal and dorsal fins are long. The back half is higher and consists of soft rays. The colouration is uniform and dark brown. Sometimes, the smaller examples present white dots spread along the body and head. In Madeira this is the coastal species that grows the largest in size (up to 1,5 m).
Conservation statute and Threats: Threatened (endangered).
Observations: Species protected by the emblematic Garajaus Natural Reserve. Due to the abusive fishing, its currently threatened, that is why its capture is forbidden. It is a protoginic hermaphrodite species; first it is a male and then becomes a female.
