Blacktip grouper

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

The blacktip grouper or redbanded grouper[3], Epinephelus fasciatus, is a species of marine fish in the family Serranidae.[4]

Distribution

The blacktip grouper is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from the Red Sea to South Africa, as far north as Korea, and in the waters around Australia to Pitcairn Islands.[5] It is also commonly found around the Mascarene Islands and is a prized commercial fish in Mauritius.

Description

The blacktip grouper grows up to 40 cm in length and may weigh up to 2 kg, but its common size is average 22 cm.[5] These fishes have eleven dorsal spines, 15-17 dorsal soft rays, three anal spines and eight anal soft rays. The tips of the spines of the dorsal fin are black. The caudal fin is rounded. They are quite changeable in their color, ranging from pale greenish grey to pale reddish yellow or pinkish. Their body shows 5-6 dark transversal stripes. The top of head is reddish brown, usually with paler markings. They may have a dark red cap above the eyes, as well as a narrow black edge around the eyes. [5][1][6] A variant occurs with a uniformly pale body except for the front part.[7]

Biology

This species may present simultaneous hermaphroditism in smaller individuals, while the large individuals usually lose female function. [5]

The blacktip grouper feeds on crustaceans and smaller fishes by ambushing them.[5][6] It is found associated with coral reefs from 4 m deep (more commonly from 15 m) up to 160 m, in both marine and brackish water, sometimes in groups of 10-15 individuals.[5][6] Juveniles may find shelter in mangrove swamps.[7]

Blacktip groupers of the Red Sea are fished by the Bedouin.[7] It has also been associated with ciguatera poisoning.[5]

Parasites

Blacktip groupers are host of several parasites, including Pseudorhabdosynochus spp. (diplectanid Monogeneans) on the gills.[8] The philometrid nematode Philometra fasciati is parasitic in the ovary of female fish;[9] the adult female parasite is a red worm which can reach up to 40 centimetres in length, for a diameter of only 1.6 millimetre; the males are tiny.

References

  1. 1 2 Fennessy, S., Kulbicki, M., Cabanban, A.S., Myers, R. & Choat, J.H. 2008 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  2. ↑ WoRMS
  3. ↑ Common names of Epinephelus fasciatus
  4. ↑ Catalogue of life
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Epinephelus fasciatus" in FishBase. 5 2007 version.
  6. 1 2 3 Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2
  7. 1 2 3 Siliotti, A. (2002) fishes of the red sea Verona, Geodia ISBN 88-87177-42-2
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
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