Hawaiian grouper

Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is endemic to Hawaii

type locality given as Honolulu.^[3] It was formerly considered to be in the genus Epinephelus but is now considered to belong to the genus Hyporthodus.^[4] The specific name quernus means "oaken", presumably a reference to its reddish colour as an adult.^[5]

anal fin has 3 spines and 9 soft rays.^[2] The membranes between the dorsal fin spines are deeply notched. The caudal fin is rounded. 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 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. 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.^{[citation needed]} Juveniles are more variable in colour and may be pale greyish and the series of pale spots are more distinct and unobscured.^[6] This species has a maximum published total length of 122 centimetres (48 in) and a maximum weight of 22.7 kilograms (50 lb).^[2] The largest recorded specimen caught was 31.75 kilograms (70 lbs) off of Puako, Northwest Hawaii Island.^{[citation needed}

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). At a total length of 89.5 centimetres (35.2 in) 50% of the females change sex to become males, although this can occur at 75.3 centimetres (29.6 in). The spawning season runs from February to June, peaking in March.^[1] This predatory species prefers to prey on other fishes with crustaceans, especially shrimp, as a second preference.^[6]