Sealife guideThe dusky grouperEpinephelus marginatus

Last updated on 04/22/2026 at 11:47 PM

There are several species of groupers found around the world, including the dusky grouper, the big star of the French Mediterranean coast and more generally of the Mediterranean.

Taxonomy

English names Dusky grouper

French namesMérou brun

Spanish namesMero nebuloso

Scientific nameEpinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)

FamilyEpinephelidae

OrderPerciformes

ClassActinopterygii

Description

The dusky grouper measures around 3 feet and can reach up to 5 feet in length.

The dusky grouper has a brownish coloration either solid or mottled with yellow spots depending on the individual

Oval in shape, the grouper has a long dorsal fin and is characterized by a mouth surrounded by thick lips.

The dusky grouper has a brownish coloration either solid or mottled with yellow spots depending on the individual.

Geographic range

The dusky grouper is found in the Mediterranean sea as well as in the Atlantic ocean, from South Africa to Portugal. The dusky grouper is widely distributed in the Mediterranean, but its presence is now very uneven depending on the region.

It is especially well represented in the western Mediterranean, particularly in marine protected areas such as Port-Cros National Park, Scandola Nature Reserve, and the Medes islands, where populations have recovered thanks to protection measures.

In the eastern Mediterranean, the grouper is also present (Greece, Turkey), but populations are generally more scattered and less abundant due to higher fishing pressure and less consistent protection. It can still be observed on deep and well-preserved rocky habitats, especially in less exploited areas.

Habitat

The dusky grouper is a sedentary fish that lives close to the seabed, sheltering in rocky crevices or under rocky overhangs.

Its territory typically includes several shelters with one of them being regularly frequented.

The dusky grouper can be found at depths ranging from 16 to 33 feet down to approximately 656 feet.

Diet

The dusky grouper primarily feeds on fish, crustaceans and octopuses.

The distinctive mouth of the dusky grouper

The dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)

A dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) waits under the shelter of a rocky overhang

Reproduction

The dusky grouper has the unique ability to change sex once in its lifetime. It starts as a female at a young age and becomes a male around 10 to 15 years old.

Did you know ?

The dusky grouper can live up to 50 years.

Despite its bulky appearance, it is capable of rapid acceleration to catch its prey.

Fishing with hooks and spearfishing for the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) are banned along the entire mainland Mediterranean coast. This moratorium on grouper fishing was extended by a prefectural decree on 12/17/2007 until 2013.

Tips for observing

The dusky grouper is not very shy and can be easily approached as long as no sudden movements are made.