It is a protogynous hermaphrodite and 50% of the females are sexually mature at 58 centimetres (23 in), when they are around 6 years old, although it has been recorded in fish at 32.8 centimetres (12.9 in). The Hawaiian grouper is a demersal species which is found on coral and rocky reefs at depths between 20 and 380 metres (66 and 1,247 ft). The Hawaiian grouper is endemic to Hawaii and its range includes the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Johnston Atoll. The largest recorded specimen caught was 31.75 kilograms (70 lbs) off of Puako, Northwest Hawaii Island. This species has a maximum published total length of 122 centimetres (48 in) and a maximum weight of 22.7 kilograms (50 lb). Juveniles are more variable in colour and may be pale greyish and the series of pale spots are more distinct and unobscured. Depending on habitat and where geographically found, some have a slight blue tint to their belly in the mature older adults, whereas in other areas they can have a slight reddish tint possibly for camouflage from predators. ![]() The fins of adults are largely plain and have a similar colour to the body apart from a small number of pale spots along the base part of the dorsal fin. The adults are dark brown in overall colour and are marked with 8 vertical series of faint white spots which are obscured by many extra pale spots and blotches which vary in size. The membranes between the dorsal fin spines are deeply notched. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 14-15 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 9 soft rays. The upper margin of the gill cover is convex. It has an angular preopercle which has 3-4 enlarged serrations at its angle, with the lowest pointing downwards. The Hawaiian grouper has a body which has a standard length that is 2.3 to 2.7 times its depth. The specific name quernus means "oaken", presumably a reference to its reddish colour as an adult. It was formerly considered to be in the genus Epinephelus but is now considered to belong to the genus Hyporthodus. The Hawaiian grouper was first formally described in 1901 as Epinephelus quernus by the American ichthyologist Alvin Seale (1871-1958) with the type locality given as Honolulu.
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