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SERRAN Epin 35

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Epinephelus latifasciatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Banded Fr - Mérou à bandes Sp - Mero abanderado

NATIONAL:

juvenile DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.9 to 3.3 times in standard length; caudal peduncle depth greater than length of second anal fin spine. Preopercle angular, with 2 to 4 enlarged serrae at the angle; maxilla reaches past eye; 2 or 3 rows of teeth on midlateral part of dentary; lower gillrakers 14 to 16. with 11 spines and 12 to 14 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 18 or 19; caudal fin rounded to truncate. Pored scales 58 to 66; lateral scale series 91 to 106. Colour: juveniles less than 15 cm standard length: head and body brown, with 2 broad, horizontal, black- edged, pale bands as shown in figure. Adults over 20 cm standard length: head an body greyish-brown, with 3 or 4 longitudinal dark lines from front of head to dorsal and caudal fins, these lines broken into rows of spots in some places; caudal and soft dorsal fins pale, with prominent black spots and blotches. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus epistictus: dorsal fin soft-rays 14 or 15 (12 to 14 in E. latifasciatus); maxilla not reaching past orbit; no horizontal, broad, white bands in juveniles.

E. morrhua: dorsal fin soft rays 14 or 15; lateral scale series 108 to 136 (91 to 106 in E. latifasciatus); no horizontal, broad, white bands in juveniles. E. poecilonotus: dorsal fin soft rays 14 or 15; no horizontal broad, white bands in juveniles.

E. epistictus

SIZE:

Maximum: 70 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

In the area, known from the Red Sea and northern Indian Ocean including the "Gulf", Gulf of Oman and the coasts of India and Sri Lanka. Also present in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific, eastward to China and Japan.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Young fish are found on mud bottoms, adults on sandy or rocky areas in depths of 20 to 200 m.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

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

Sold mostly fresh in local markets.

SERRAN Epin 36

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY : SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean) Epinephelus longispinis (Kner, 1865)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Often misidentified as E. gaimardi (Valenciennes, 1830), which is a of E. miliaris (Valenciennes), or as E. fario (Thunber, 1792), which is a different (valid) species

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Streakyspot grouper Fr - Mérou longues épines Sp - Mero espigón NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.5 to 3.1 times in standard length. Preopercle rounded with a slight notch, below which the serrae are enlarged; maxilla reaches vertical at rear edge of eye; midlateral part of lower jaw with 2 or 3 rows of teeth; lower gillrakers 15 or 16. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 16 or 17 soft rays; longest dorsal spine (3rd or 4th) 15 to 18% of standard length, longer than longest dorsal soft ray; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 17 to 19; caudal fin rounded. Pored lateral line scales 50 to 53; lateral scale series 106 to 116; body scales distinctly ctenoid. Colour: head and body brownish, covered with dark, small, reddish-brown spots that are rounded and well separated on head and front part of body, but becoming crowded and elongated posteriorly to form oblique streaks. Pectoral and pelvic fins dusky, with a few small dark spots.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus tauvina and E. malabaricus: dark spots on body not crowded and elongated poste- riorly; dorsal fin membrane distinctly incised between the spines; maxilla reaches well past eye.

SIZE:

Maximum; 60 cm,

E. tauvina

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Widespread in the Western Indian Ocean southward to Durban (South Africa), not in the Red Sea or the "Gulf".

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Depths of 10 to 70 m.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with hook and line, in traps, qillnets and trawls.

Sold fresh in local markets.

SERRAN Epin 37

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Epinephelus magniscuttis Postel, Fourmanoir & Guezé, 1964

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Epinephelus pseudomorrhua Postel, Fourmanoir & Guezé, 1964

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Speckled grouper Fr - Mérou grandes écailles Sp - Mero bacalao

NATIONAL

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.7 to 3.1 times in standard length. Preopercle serrate, with 2 to 4 enlarged serrae at the angle; maxilla not reaching past eye; 2 rows of teeth along sides of lower jaw; lower-limb gillrakers 16 or 17. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 14 or 15 soft rays; dorsal fin membrane distinctly indented between the spines; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 17 to 19; caudal fin slightly to moderately rounded. Pored lateral line scales 55 to 62; lateral scale series 103 to 122; body scales ctenoid (except on belly) without auxiliary scales. Colour: head, body and fins tan; dorsolateral parts of head and body covered with small, irregularly spaced and shaped, blackish-brown spots; dark spots extend onto dorsal fin and basal half of upper caudal rays; a dark brown band on cheek from front of snout along upper edge of maxilla to lower rear edge of Preopercle; pectoral fins yellowish tan. Juveniles with fewer spots, and the spots on the body tend to be aligned in oblique series.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus morrhua, E. poecilonotus, E. radiatus and E. epistictus: all very similar morpho- logically; these species are easiest to identify by reference to their illustrations. E. latifasciatus: dorsal fin soft rays 12 or 13 (14 or 15 in E. magniscuttis); narrow dark bands or rows of Spots on body horizontal.

E. albomarginatus: body scales with auxiliary E. morrhua scales; lower gillrakers 14 to 16 (16 or 17 in E. magniscuttis); dark spots on body evenly spaced; soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins with prominent white edge.

E. poecilonotus

E. radiatus

E. latifasciatus

E. episticus

SIZE: Maximum: 70 cm. E. albomarginatus GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: In the Western Indian Ocean, known only from Sodwana Bay (South Africa), Mozambique, Mauritius and Réunion. Usually found in deep water, between 100 and 300 m depth

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Depths of 50 to 300 m.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with hook and line and in traps.

Marketed fresh.

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