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SERRAN Epin 9 1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Epinephhelus horridus (Valenciennes, 1828)

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Brown-marbled Fr - Mérou marbré Sp - Mero manchado

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.6 to 2.9 times in standard length. Dorsal head profile with an indentation above hind edge of eye; interorbital area flat; preopercle finely serrate, the serrae not enlarged at the angle; front nostril tiny, rear one oval or triangular with its greatest diameter (in fishes larger than 30 cm standard length) more than 4 times that of front nostril; lower gillrakers 18 to 21. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 14 or 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 18 to 20; caudal fin rounded. Pored lateral line scales 49 to 58; lateral scale series 102 to 116; scales on body cycloid on fishes larger than 10 cm standard length, mostly covered by skin on large adults. Colour: generally brownish with many small dark spots on body and fins and large irregular dark blotches on head and body overlying the smaller dark spots; a brownish-black saddle-blotch on top of caudal peduncle; jaws and chin with transverse pale bands. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus microdon: pectoral rays 16 or 17 18 to 20 in E. fuscoguttatus); lower gillrakers 15 to 18 (18 to 21 in E. fuscoguttatus); dorsal head profile evenly convex (no indentation above rear edge of eye). E. multinotatus: dorsal fin membranes only slightly indented between the spines; caudal fin truncate; pored lateral line scales 67 to 77 (49 to 58 E. microdon in E. fuscoguttatus); body with white blotches.

E. tauvina: body depth 3.1 to 3.5 times in standard length (2.6 to 2.9 times in E. fusco- guttatus); pored lateral line scales 67 to 74' E. malabaricus: body depth 3.0 to 3.5 times in standard length; lower gillrakers 13 to 16; dorsal profile of head smoothly convex (no indentation above rear edge of eye).

E. multinotatus

E. malabaricus E. tauvina SIZE:

Maximum: 90 cm; 11 kg.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Red Sea and tropical Western Indian ocean (southward to Mozambique) but not recorded from the "Gulf". Also present in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific. Not known from Hawaii or French Polynesia, but does occur from southern Japan to Queensland (Australia).

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coral reefs from the shore to at least 30 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.

Marketed fresh. SERRAN Epin 11

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

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

Epinephelus summana (Forsskål, 1775)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO: En - Summan grouper Fr - Mérou summan Sp - Mero suman

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth contained 2.7 to 3.1 times in standard length. Opercular flap obtuse, the upper edge very convex; sides of lower jaw with 2 to 4 rows of subequal teeth; lower gillrakers 8 plus several rudiments. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 14 to 16 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays; pectoral rays 15 to 18; pectoral fin length 1.65 to 2.1 times in head length, 23 to 26% of standard length; caudal fin rounded. Pored lateral line scales 49 to 54; lateral scale series 95 to 109; body scales ctenoid, with auxiliary scales. Colour: generally dark brown or brownish-grey with pale brown blotches and numerous small white spots; a prominent black streak along maxillary groove; fins dark brown with small white spots (may only be basally on pectorals). Juveniles dark brownish grey covered with large, dark-edged white spots; pectorals black with small white spots forming irregular transverse bands. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus ongus: pectoral fin length con- tained 1.4 to 1.7 times in head length; 28 to 30% of standard length (1.65 to 2.1 times in head length and 2.3 to 2.6% of standard length in E. summana); white spots on body of adults tending to form irregular longitudinal streaks. E. caeruleopunctatus: opercular flap acute, the upper edge straight or slightly convex; pectoral E. ongus rays 17 to 19 (15 to 18 in E. summana); pelvic fins uniformly dark.

SIZE:

Maximum: 53 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: E. caeruleopunctatus Known only from the Red Sea.

Generally found on reefs in lagoons or other protected waters in depths of 1 to 20 m.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Shallow coral-reef lagoons and bays.

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 in local markets.

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