Epinephelus Tukula Morgans, 1959
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click for previous page SERRAN Epin 56 1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean) Epinephelus tukula Morgans, 1959 OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Potato grouper Fr - Mérou patate Sp - Mero patata NATIONAL: DISTINTIVE CHARACTERS: Body depth contained 2.9 to 3.3 times in standard length; caudal peduncle depth greater than length of second anal fin spine; maxilla reaches vertical at rear edge of eye; 3 to 6 rows of teeth at sides of lower jaw; lower gillrakers 16 to 18; rear nostril diameter not more than twice that of front nostril. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays; pectoral rays 19 or 20; caudal fin rounded. Pored lateral line scales 66 to 70; lateral scale series 117 to 135; midlateral body scales ctenoid. Colour: body dark grey, with large, round or oval, widely-spaced, black blotches; small, round, black spots on soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins with a few large spots at the bases of these fins; pectoral and pelvic fins with small, obscure dark spots. Very large fish are uniformly dark grey or black. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: The distinctive colour pattern of large oval or round dark blotches on the body of E. tukula is easily recognized, but may not be distinct on speci- mens larger than 150 cm. The species that these giant fish might be confused with are: Epinephelus malabaricus: pored lateral line scales 56 to 67 (66 to 70 in E. tukula); lateral scale series 98 to 114 (117 to 135 in E. tukula); only 2 rows of teeth at sides of lower jaw. E. modestus: body depth contained 2.6 to 2.8 E. modestus times in standard length (2.9 to 3.3 times in E. tukula); caudal fin truncate; pectoral rays 17 or 18 19 or 20 in E. tukula); rear nostril 3 or 4 times larger than front nostril (not more than twice larger in E. tukula). SIZE: Maximum: 200 cm. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Widespread in the Western Indian Ocean north of Natal, but not recorded from Madagascar, the Red Sea or the "Gulf". Also present in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific, extending eastward to southern Japan. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Rocky bottoms in depths of 10 to 150 m. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with hook and line. Sold fresh in local markets. SERRAN Epin 57 1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean) Epinephelus undulosus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Midwater grouper Fr - Mérou ondulé Sp - Mero ondulado NATIONAL: DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body depth contained 2.8 to 3.2 times in standard length. Preopercle with large serrae at the angle; rear end of maxilla with distinct protuberance covered by upper lip; sides of lower jaw with 2 rows of teeth; gillrakers long and numerous, 20 to 22 on lower limb: no rudimentary rakers. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 18 or 19 soft rays; dorsal fin membrane not incised between the spines; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral rays 18 or 19; caudal fin truncate to slightly concave. Pored lateral line scales 70 to 75, difficult to count, lateral scale series 144 to 155; body scales ctenoid, except on belly. Colour: generally purplish grey or brownish, usually with golden brown speckles on top and sides of head and on anterodorsal part of body; juveniles (larger than 50 cm total length) with parallel subhorizontal broken lines on head and body. Some specimens without dots or lines. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Epinephelus morrhua: dorsal fin with 14 or 15 soft rays (10 or 19 in E. undulosus); caudal. fin rounder]; lower gillrakers T to 11, not counting rudiments (20 to 22 in E. undulosus). E. modestus: dorsal fin with 14 or 15 soft rays; lower gillrakers 11 to 13, not counting rudi- ments. E. flavocaeruleus: dorsal fin with 16 or 17 soft rays; lower gillrakers 13 or 14, not counting rudiments. E. morrhua SIZE: Maximum: 75 cm (total length), 7 kg. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Occurs in the northern part of the area (north of about 5oN) but not in the Red Sea or the "Gulf". Also present in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific, to China, the Philippines and New Guinea. A fish of the banks, not of reefs. Feeds on pelagic as well as bernthic tishes, small crusta- ceans and pelagic tunicates (thaliaceans). PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Depths of 20 to 90 m. CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION: Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with trawls and hook and line. Sold fresh in local markets. SERRAN Gracil 1 1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean) Gracila albomarginata (Fowler & Bean, 1930) OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Red-edged grouper Fr - Mérou bord rouge Sp - Mero paraniero NATIONAL: DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body depth contained 2.6 to 3.0 times in standard length. Head small, its length contained 3.0 to 3.1 times in standard length; preopercle rounded, upper margin finely serrate; maxilla reaches slightly past eye; sides of lower jaw with 2 rows of teeth; lower gillrakers 15 to 17. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 14 or 15 soft rays, the membrane only slightly incised between the spines; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pectoral rays 17 to 19; caudal fin truncate to slightly concave. Pored lateral line scales 67 to 73; lateral scale series 108 to 115; body scales ctenoid, except on belly. Colour: head and body dark reddish brown; 4 or 5 oblique, dark blue lines on head and 12 to 14 anteriorly convex narrow blue bars on sides below lateral line. Margin of soft dorsal and anal fins reddish orange with a submarginal mauve band; corners and/or rear margin of caudal fin reddish or mauve. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Aethaloperca rogaa: body depth contained 2.1 to 2.4 times in standard length (2.6 to 3.0 in G. albomarginata); dorsal fin rays 11 or 18 (14 or 15 in G. albomarginata); no blue lines on head or body. Cephalopholis boenack: caudal fin rounded; anal fin rays 8 (9 in G. albomarginata); head length contained 2.6 to 2.8 times in standard length (3.0 to 3.1 times in G. albomarginata); pored lateral line scales 49 to 52 (67 to 73 in G. albomarginata); blue lines on body longitudinal. Aethaloperca rogaa Gracila polleni: body yellow, with pale blue- violet, longitudinal bands. SIZE: Maximum: 50 cm. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Cephalopholis boenack Northern Mozambique to Zanzibar, Cosmoledo Island, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Réunion and Chagos Archipelago. Also known from the East Indies and southern Japan. PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS: Coral reefs in depths of 4 to 20 m. Rare. Gracila polleni 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. click for next page.