Kingdom Animalia Order Perciformes Genus Hyporthodus Higher classification Hyporthodus | Phylum Chordata Family Serranidae Scientific name Hyporthodus quernus Rank Species | |
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Similar Hyporthodus, Epinephelus summana, Epinephelus spilotoceps, Epinephelus undulosus, Sawtail grouper | ||
Kure 300ft hawaiian grouper
The Hawaiian grouper (Hyporthodus quernus, formerly Epinephelus quernus) is a species of marine fish in the family Serranidae. A large inquisitive inhabitant endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago (most common around Midway and Kure Atoll) and Johnston Island.
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The Hawaiian grouper prefers deep cool waters and has been sighted at 380 ft. It is carnivorous and feeds on fishes and large invertebrates, attaining a length and weight of at least 3 feet and 50 pounds. Hawaiian groupers are protogynious and reproduce externally (fertilization in open water/substratum egg scatterers). They do not guard their eggs once laid. A long-lived, commercially important species (member of the 'Deep Seven') and highly sensitive to over-harvesting, the species is currently listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as near threatened (NT). The Hawaiian name for this grouper is hāpu‘u, juveniles known as hāpu‘upu‘u.