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SERRAN Epin 30

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

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

Epinephelus diacanthus (Valenciennes, 1828)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : None

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Thornycheek grouper Fr - Mérou épineux Sp - Mero espinudo

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.8 to 3.2 times in standard length. Preopercle border forming nearly a right angle, with 1 to 3 enlarged serrae at the angle; sides of lower jaw with 2 rows of small subequal teeth; anterior nostrils tubular, with a large flap posteriorly extending over rear nostril; lower gillrakers 14 to 16. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 18 to 20; caudal fin rounded to almost truncate. Pored lateral line scales 53 to 60; lateral line scales series 105 to 120.

Colour: body generally buff, with 5 more or less distinct, vertical dark bars; 4 bars below dorsal fin and 5th on caudal peduncle. Ventral part of head and body reddish. Some specimens with a black streak across cheek at upper edge of maxilla. Dark bars on body sometimes absent.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus stoliczkae: head and body with dark orange-red spots; base of pectoral fin white, with a black crescentic band; maxilla reaching past eye; pored lateral line scales 48 to 51 (53 to 60 in E. diacanthus).

E. epistictus: no dark bars on body; no large flap on anterior nostrils.

E. stoliczkae E. rivulatus: a small white spot on each body scale; lateral line scales 47 to 53.

Other Epinephelus species: colour pattern not as above.

SIZE

Maximum: 52 cm. E. epistictus

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Gulf of Oman, and coasts of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Occurs in depths of 2 to 50 m.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coastal waters throughout its range. E. rivulatus

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with hook and line, in traps, gillnets, liftnets and trawls.

Marketed fresh and dried salted. SERRAN Epin 31

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Epinephelus epistictus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Epinephelus praeopercularis Boulenger, 1887

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Broken-line grouper Fr - Mérou pâle Sp - Mero palido

NATIONAL:

juvenile

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.9 to 3.5 times in standard length. Eye diameter 4.5 to 5.8 times in head length; preopercle serrate, with 4 or 5 enlarged serrae at the angle; maxilla reaches to or almost to vertical at rear edge of orbit; lower gillrakers 14 to 17. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 14 or 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 17 to 19; dorsal fin membrane distinctly indented between the spines; caudal fin truncate in adults, rounded in juveniles. Lateral scale series 108 to 116; pored lateral line scales 57 to 72.

Colour: head and body tan or pale grey; juveniles with 3 slightly curving dark brown lines running backward from eye across opercle and continued on body as series of small dark spots. Adults with numerous small dark spots on body dorsally and laterally; dark lines on head indistinct. Pectoral fins pale yellow; margin of spinous dorsal fin gold.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus morrhua: dark bands extending backward from eye persisting on body of adults.

E. albomarginatus: body depth 2.7 to 2.9 times in standard length (2.9 to 3.5 times in E. epistictus); no dark lines on head.

E. latifasciatus: dorsal fin soft rays 12 or 13 (14 or 15 in E. epistictus); maxilla reaches past E. morrhua vertical at rear edge of eye; juveniles brown, with 2 horizontal, white bands.

E. albomarginatus E. latifasciatus

SIZE: Maximum: 80 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Widespread along the continental shelves of the Western Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea, but absent from the "Gulf". Also found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific, eastward to Viet Nam, China and Japan.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

A fairly deepwater species, known from 90 to 290 m depth.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with hook and line, in traps and gillnets.

Sold fresh and dried salted in local markets.

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