Biology:Blacktip grouper

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Short description: Species of fish

Blacktip grouper
Adult of Epinephelus fasciatus
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Tribe: Epinephelini
Genus: Epinephelus
Species:
E. fasciatus
Binomial name
Epinephelus fasciatus
Forsskål, 1775
Synonyms[2]

The blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus), also known as the redbanded grouper, blacktipped cod, black-tipped rockcod, footballer cod, red-barred cod, red-barred rockcod, scarlet rock-cod or weathered rock-cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the grouper family Epinephelidae. It is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region.

Taxonomy

The blacktip grouper was first formally described as Perca fasciata in 1775 by the Swedish-speaking Finnish-born explorer Peter Forsskål (1732-1763) with the type locality given as Ras Muhammad in the southern Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.[3] The German naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) erected Epinephelus when he described E. marginalis in 1793, but E. marginalis was found to be a synonym of Perca fasciata[4], so this species is the type species of its genus.[5]

Distribution

The blacktip grouper has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. Its range extends from the Red Sea and the Eastern Cape in South Africa to the Pitcairn Islands longitudinally, and from southern Japan and Korea to New Caledonia and Australia latitudinally. In particular, it is found around Madagascar, Mascarenes, Comoros and the Seychelles.[1] In Australia, it occurs on the west coast, around the tropical coastline in the north, and as far south as Port Hacking in New South Wales. It can also be found on reefs in the Coral Sea, around Christmas Island and around Elizabeth Reef and Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.[6] A single record was reported in 2012 from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, off Lebanon.[7]

Habitat

The blacktip grouper is found associated with coral reefs, with a depth range of 4–160 m (13–525 ft) (though it is more commonly found at a depth of at least 15 m (49 ft)). It may inhabit both marine and brackish environments, with juveniles sometimes taking shelter in mangrove swamps.[8] It is sometimes found in groups of 10-15 individuals.[2][9]

Description

Body form, size and meristics

The standard length of the blacktip grouper is around 2.8 to 3.3 times its depth. The area between the eyes is flat but the dorsal profile of the head is convex. The rounded preopercle has a finely serrated rear margin, with the lowest serrations slightly enlarged. The upper edge of the gill cover is straight.[10] The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 15-17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays.[2] The membranes between the dorsal-fin spines are deeply indented. The caudal fin is moderately rounded. There are 49-75 scales in the lateral line.[10] This species attains a maximum total length of 40 cm (16 in), although a more common length is around 22 cm (8.7 in). The maximum published weight is 2.0 kg (4.4 lb).[2]

Coloration

The adult coloration is variable and ranges from pale greenish-grey to pale reddish-yellow to scarlet. There are frequently 5 or 6 faint dark bars on the flanks, with the final one on the caudal peduncle. The scales on the upper body have a pale center and dark rear margin, which creates an indistinct checked pattern. The outer membrane of the spiny part of the dorsal fin is black (hence the common name), or dark red in specimens from Western Australia and from deep water. There is a pale yellow (or white) spot to the rear of the tip of each of the dorsal fin spines.[2]

  • Juvenile
    Juvenile
  • Adult
    Adult
  • A variant of an adult with a pale body and a red front part
    A variant of an adult with a pale body and a red front part
  • With cleaner chrimp, in Palawan, Philippines
    With cleaner chrimp, in Palawan, Philippines

Biology

Hermaphroditism

This species may present simultaneous hermaphroditism in smaller individuals, while the large individuals usually lose female function.[2]

Diet

The blacktip grouper feeds on crustaceans and smaller fishes by ambushing them.[2][9]

Parasites

Blacktip groupers are host of several parasites, including:

  • Several species in the flatworm genus Pseudorhabdosynochus, parasitic on the gills.[11]
  • The nematode Philometra fasciati. This species is parasitic in the ovary of female fish;[12] the adult female parasite is a red worm which can reach up to 40 cm (16 in) in length, for a diameter of only 1.6 mm; the males are tiny.
  • The nematode Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) fasciati. This species is paratisitc in the intestine, and may reach 20 mm (0.79 in) in length.[13]

Human interactions

In the Red Sea, the blacktip grouper is fished by the Bedouin;[8] it is also consumed in China. It has been associated with ciguatera poisoning.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Law, C. (2018). "Epinephelus fasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132817A100544403.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/132817/100544403. Retrieved 19 November 2021. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Epinephelus fasciatus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron; van der Laan, Richard, eds. "Perca fasciata". California Academy of Sciences. http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?spid=15913. 
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron; van der Laan, Richard, eds. Epinephelus "Species in the genus 'Epinephelus'". California Academy of Sciences. http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=species&genus=Epinephelus. 
  5. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron; van der Laan, Richard, eds. "Epinephelus". California Academy of Sciences. http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?genid=366. 
  6. ↑ Bray, D.J. (2018). "Epinephelus fasciatus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. http://136.154.202.208/home/species/4669. 
  7. ↑ Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Epinephelus fasciatus). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco.https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Epinephelus_fasciatus.pdf
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Siliotti, A. (2002). Fishes of the Red Sea. Geodia, Verona. ISBN 88-87177-42-2. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lieske, E.; Myers, R.F. (2004). Coral reef guide; Red Sea. HarperCollins London. ISBN 0-00-715986-2. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Heemstra, P.C.; J.E. Randall (1993). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. FAO Fish. Synopsis. 125. FAO, Rome. p. 150-152. ISBN 92-5-103125-8. http://www.fao.org/3/t0540e/t0540e23.pdf. 
  11. ↑ Justine, Jean-Lou (2005). "Species of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from Epinephelus fasciatus and E. merra (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia and other parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, with a comparison of measurements of specimens prepared using different methods, and a description of P. caledonicus n. sp.". Systematic Parasitology 62 (1): 1–37. doi:10.1007/s11230-005-5480-0. ISSN 0165-5752. PMID 16132868. 
  12. ↑ Moravec, František; Justine, Jean-Lou (2014). "Philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) in carangid and serranid fishes off New Caledonia, including three new species". Parasite 21: 21. doi:10.1051/parasite/2014022. ISSN 1776-1042. PMID 24836940.  open access
  13. ↑ Moravec, František; Justine, Jean-Lou (2020). "New records of anisakid nematodes from marine fishes off New Caledonia, with descriptions of five new species of Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) (Nematoda, Anisakidae)". Parasite 27: 20. doi:10.1051/parasite/2020016. ISSN 1776-1042. PMID 32223885.  open access

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Wikidata ☰ Q2281131 entry



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