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SERRAN Dermat 2

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY : FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Dermatolepis striolatus Playfair, 1866

EITHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Dermatolepis aldabrensis Smith, 1955

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO En - Smooth Fr - Mérou lisse Sp - Mero liso

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body depth 2.4 to 2.8 times in standard length. Eye diameter 7 or 8 times in head length; preopercle finely serrated beneath skin, lower edge fleshy; preopercle more or less smooth in large adults; opercle with only 2 apparent spines, the third is covered by skin and scales; lower gillrakers 13 or 14; no canine teeth in jaws. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 18 or 19 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 or 10 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 18; caudal fin rounded. Body scales cycloid, except ctenoid behind pectoral fin), covered with auxiliary scales. Colour: head and body orange brown, paler ventrally. Juveniles covered with brown to black spots, with some joined to form short horizontal or oblique streaks; background with more or less distinct irregular, pale blotches of various sizes all over head and body. Adults golden brown or reddish brown, paler ventrally, with small, round dark spots all over head, body and fins. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus species: body less compressed; scales ctenoid (at least in juveniles); anal fin rays 8 in most species (9 or 10 in Dermatolepis striolatus); distinct canines present in most species. Cromileptes altivelis: dorsal fin with 10 spines (11 in D. striolatus); rear nostril a large crescentic slit.

Aethaloperca rogaa, species and Gracila species: dorsal fin spines 9; body scales ctenoid.

Epinephelus

SIZE:

Maximum: 85 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: In the Western Indian Ocean, known from Durban (South Africa), to Oman and around Aldabra, Comores, Seychelles.

Sometimes found in groups in coral reef areas.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coral reef areas; apparently rare.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION :

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with hook and line, traps and gillnets.

Marketed fresh. SERRAN Epin 1

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Epinephelus guaza (Linnaeus, 1758)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Dusky grouper Fr - Mérou noir Sp - Mero

NATIONAL:

DISTINTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.7 to 3.0 times in standard length. Interorbital area convex; preopercle finely serrate, subangular; maxilla not reaching past vertical at rear edge of eye; midlateral part of lower jaw with 2 rows of subequal teeth 2 or 3 rows in large adults); lower gillrakers 14 to 16. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 17 to 19; caudal fin rounded or truncate with rounded corners. Pored lateral line scales 66 to 73; lateral scale series 106 to 123; body scales with numerous tiny auxiliary scales. Colour: head and body dark brown or greenish dorsally, golden yellowish ventrally; irregular white blotches usually visible on body and head; a black "moustache" streak along maxillary groove more or less distinct; median fins dark brown; lower edge of anal fin narrowly white; ventral fins blackish distally; pectoral fins dark brownish- grey; margin of spinous dorsal fin and basal part of paired fins often golden yellow. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus modestus: anal fin rays 4 (8 in E. guaza); no auxiliary scales on body scales; dorsal fin soft rays 14 (15 in E. guaza); no yellowish colour on body.

E. flavocaeruleus: body depth contained 2.4 to 2.7 times in standard length (2.7 to 3 times in E. guaza); lateral scale series 130 to 150 (106 to 123 in E. guaza); caudal fin truncate with acute corners; juveniles with bright yellow fins and peduncle. E. modestus E. malabaricus: body depth contained 3.0 to 3.6 times in standard length; dark spots on head and body; no yellow colour on body.

E. multinotatus: dorsal fin membranes not incised between the spines; caudal fin truncate.

E. flavocaeruleus

E. multinotatus E. malabaricus

SIZE:

Maximum: 150 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Within the area, found only off southern Africa, at least as far north as Quissico, Mozambique (25 a S). Also present in the Mediterranean Sea, and along the entire west coast of Africa.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Common in South African waters from the shore to depths of 50 m.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species, but it is of considerable commercial importance in South Africa.

Caught with hook and line.

Marketed fresh.

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