Indian Journal of Geo Marine Sciences Vol. 49 (07), June 2020, pp. 1184-1188

First occurrence of three of genus Bloch, 1793 (: ) from the marine waters of Odisha coast, Bay of Bengal, India

P Sahooa, S R Mohantyb, D Rayc, G Mishraa & Anil Mohapatra*,b aDepartment of Zoology, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Odisha – 760 007, India bEstuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha – 761 002, India cBajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya, Kismat Bajkul, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal – 721 655, India *[E-mail: [email protected]]

Received 03 January 2019; revised 23 May 2019

Present paper reports the occurrence of three species Epinephelus areolatus, Epinephelus magniscuttis, and Epinephelus longispinis from Odisha coast for the first time and an evidential record of Epinephelus radiatus. Report of these three species of groupers (Family: Serranidae) have increased the diversity of groupers to 15 species for the Odisha coast.

[Keywords: Grouper, Gopalpur, New record, Paradeep]

Introduction Bengal with the help of local fishermen through gill The Family Serranidae comprises 5 subfamilies net. Three species of groupers, E. areolatus, (Serraninae, Anthiadinae, Epinephelinae, Liopropomatinae E. magniscuttis and E. longispinis were collected & Grammistinae) representing about 568 valid species afresh from the marine waters of Gopalpur and worldwide1. Along the Indian coast, family Serranidae Paradeep coast which were not reported from the represents 85 species belonging to 19 genera2. The sub- Odisha coast. Immediately after collection family Epinephelinae includes 15 genera and photography was done to note their colouration 160 species, of which 110 are from Indo-Pacific region3 pattern. One species Epinephelus radiatus which was and the genus Epinephelus includes 98 species, of which just listed by Panda & Parida7 is also collected during 70 are from Indo-Pacific area4. the sampling and the details are given herewith for the The Family serranidae is represented by 9 species evidential record. The specimens were identified from the genus Epinephelus5-7, and 1 species each following taxonomic key of Heemstra & Randall3. from the genus Chelidoperca5 and Cephalopholis8, E. longispinis was identified following Fischer and respectively along the Odisha coast. Very recently, Bianchi10. Morphometric measurements were one more species formosa (Shaw & worked out with digital calliper (Table 1) and Nodder, 1812) has been reported9 taking the species to Magnus MS13/24 stereo zoom microscope was used two in Genus Cephalopholis along the Odisha coast. for scale and gill raker count. Then the specimens During the collection of grouper specimens along were fixed in 10 % formalin and registered & the Odisha coast the authors came across four grouper deposited in Estuarine Biological Regional Centre, species which were not reported from the Odisha Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-sea coast. Hence, the paper reports Epinephelus areolatus and the details of registration numbers are provided (Forsskål, 1775); Epinephelus magniscuttis Postel, under each species. The detailed morphometric Fourmanoir & Guézé, 1963 and Epinephelus measurements and characters of four species are longispinis (Kner, 1864) for the first time from the described below. marine waters of Odisha, Bay of Bengal. Results Materials and Methods Systematics Order: Perciformes Bleeker, 1863 Family: Serranidae Swainson, 1839 E) Odisha, along the east coast of India, Bay of Genus: Epinephelus Bloch, 1793 SAHOO et al.: REPORT OF FOUR GROUPERS FROM ODISHA COAST 1185

Table 1 — Morphometric measurements and Meristic Formula of four species of Epinephelus Characters E. areolatus E. magniscuttis E. radiatus E. longispinis Meristic Formula rays XI + 17 XI + 15 XI + 13 - 15 XI + 16 Pectoral fin rays 16 18 15 - 16 16 Caudal fin rays 15 15 15 - 16 15 Anal fin rays III + 8 III + 8 III + 8 III + 8 Pelvic fin rays I + 5 I + 5 I + 5 I + 5 Morphometric Ratios In HL Snout 4.2 3.9 - 4.6 4.0 - 4.9 4.7 Eye diameter 5.2 5.0 - 5.5 4.0 - 4.9 4.2 IOS 5.5 5.9 - 6.5 5.6 - 7.0 6.3 In SL Head length 2.8 2.3 2.1 - 2.3 2.6 Pre dorsal length 2.9 2.5 2.3 - 2.6 3.3 Pre anal Length 1.4 1.3 - 1.4 1.4 - 1.5 1.5 Dorsal fin base length 1.9 1.9 1.7 - 2.0 1.7 Dorsal fin height 7.8 5.6 - 6.6 5.6 - 6.5 6.5 Base of dorsal fin spiny part 3.4 3.3 - 3.6 2.8 - 3.3 1.2 Base of dorsal fin soft part 4.1 4.0 - 4.4 4.5 - 5.0 3.9 Anal fin base length 5.8 5.2 - 6.0 5.0 - 6.8 5.8 Anal fin height 5.9 4.7 - 5.5 4.1 - 6.8 5.4 Pectoral fin length 4.8 3.8 - 4.2 4.0 - 4.3 4.6 Pelvic fin length 5.7 5.0 - 5.3 4.6 - 5.3 5.6 Caudal Fin Length 5.2 4.1 - 4.6 4.7 - 7.4 4.5 Body depth 3.3 2.9 - 3.1 2.1 - 3.3 3.3 Caudal peduncle length 5.1 4.4 - 5.3 5.5 - 6.5 5.9 Caudal peduncle depth 8.7 8.8 - 8.9 8.9 - 10.8 9.8

1. Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775): Areolate to dark brown spots present throughout body. grouper A moderately broad white margin, present on caudal Materials examined: EBRC/ZSI/F10811, 1 ex., 243 fin (Fig. 1). mm SL. Collection site: Gopalpur coast Distribution (Indian coast): From Indian waters the Characters: D: XI, 17; A: III, 8; P: 16; V: I, 5. species isreported from Gujarat11, Kerala12, Tamilnadu13, Body elongated with a scaly flap of skin joining Maharashtra14, Andaman Nicobar Island15 & Andhra base of upper pectoral fin rays to body; mouth large Pradesh16. This paper extends the distribution further and terminal. Head length (HL) is 2.8 times in northwards to Odisha coast. standard length (SL). Upper edge of preopercle serrated while lower edge is free of serrations. 2. Epinephelus magniscuttis Postel, Fourmanoir & Slightly emarginated caudal fin. Both maxilla and Guézé, 1963: Speckled grouper mandible bear teeth along with palatine teeth. Body Materials examined: EBRC/ZSI/F10806, 2ex. 151 depth 3.3 times in SL. Eyes moderate and 5.2 times in – 175 mm SL. Collection site: Paradeep coast HL. Inter orbital space 5.5 times in HL. Snout slightly Characters: D: XI, 15; A: III, 8; P: 18; V: I, 5. shorter than eye, 4.2 times in HL. Ctenoid scales Body elongated with a straight head, and terminal cover the body. Body depth is smaller than HL, 1.2 large mouth. HL 2.3 times in SL. Eye moderate, 5.0 – times in HL. possess 50 pored scales. 14 5.5 times in HL. Gill rakers on first gill arch are 26: rows of ctenoid scales lie between lateral line and upper limb 10 & lower limb 16. Lateral line scales 69 dorsal fin origin. Gill rakers on upper limb and & midlateral body scales rough. Body depth 2.9 – 3.1 lower limb were 9 and 14, respectively. Base of dorsal times in SL. Scale rows between lateral line and spiny part & soft part are 3.4 & 4.1 times in SL dorsal fin origin 15. Auxiliary scales are absent. respectively. Colouration: Round distinctly separated black Colouration: Head, body and fins coloured pale spots are present on head, body, dorsal fin and a few brown. Small, closely placed, round, yellowish brown on caudal fin. Spots are not uniformly distributed. 1186 INDIAN J GEO-MAR. SCI, VOL 49, NO 06, JULY 2020

Fig. 3 — Epinephelus radiatus (Day, 1868) Fig. 1 — Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål, 1775) 2nd and 3rd bifurcated and 4th on caudal peduncle. From the rear part of eye originates an irregular dark edged band; which bifurcate immediately. Two oblique & narrow bands are present on opercular region. Small dark brown dots irregularly distributed at the base of dorsal fin and a few on caudal fin (Fig. 3). Distribution (Indian coast): From Indian waters the 17 species was reported from Andhra Pradesh , Fig. 2 — Epinephelus magniscuttis Postel, Fourmanoir & Guézé, Maharashtra18, Kerala12 and also listed from Odisha 1963 coast7. This paper provides the first evidential report

Paired fins, anal fin and ventral part of body & head of E. radiatus from Odisha coast. are devoid of spots (Fig. 2). Distribution (Indian coast): From Indian waters the 4. Epinephelus longispinis (Kner, 1864): Longspine species E. magniscuttis was reported only from grouper Andhra Pradesh17. This paper adds its distribution to Materials Examined: EBRC/ZSI/F10816, 1 ex., Odisha coast which further extends the range 196 SL; Collection site; Gopalpur coast. northwards. Characters: D: XI, 16; A: III, 8; P: 16; V: I, 5. Elongated body with a straight head, mouth 3. Epinephelus radiatus (Day, 1868): Oblique- terminal & large, maxilla reaching the rear end of eye; banded grouper oblong rear nostril. HL 2.6 times in SL. Eyes large, Materials Examined: EBRC/ZSI/F9673; 65 mm 4.2 times in HL. Number of gill rakers on first gill SL; 1 ex, Collection site; Gopalpur coast, EBRC/ arch are 9 on upper limb and 15 on lower limb. ZSI/F9662; 135 – 156 mm SL; 2 ex, Collection site; Lateral line scales 52. Scale rows between lateral line Paradeep coast, EBRC/ZSI/F9717; 166 mm SL; 1 ex, and dorsal fin origin 14. Body depth 3.3 times in SL. Collection site; Gopalpur coast, EBRC/ZSI/F10807; Moderately incised interspinous membrane of dorsal 187 mm SL; 1 ex, Collection site; Paradeep coast. fin. Caudal fin rounded, 4.5 times in SL. Third dorsal Characters: D: XI, 13 – 15; A: III, 8; P: 15 – 16; spine is the longest one, 16 % of SL. V: I, 5. Colouration: Body pinkish to brownish in colour Elongated body with straight head, mouth terminal with well separated small round reddish brown spots and large. Maxilla large, reaching to rear end of eye. on head and operculum. Trunk with oval spots and HL 2.1 – 2.3 times in SL. Eyes 4.0 – 4.9 times in HL. caudal region with streaks. A narrow white line Number of gill rakers on upper limb is 8 – 10 and on present on rear edge of soft dorsal, caudal and anal fin lower limb are 13 – 16. Lateral line scales 57 – 61. rays. Small round spots on dorsal, pectoral and pelvic Scale rows between lateral line and dorsal fin origin fin. Caudal fin, anal fin and ventral part of body are 13 – 14. Body depth 2.1 – 3.3 times in SL. Deeply spotless. A brick red stripe present above and parallel incised interspinous membrane of dorsal fin. Caudal to maxilla running halfway in operculum (Fig. 4). fin rounded, 4.7 – 7.4 in SL. Distribution (Indian coast): From Indian waters 19 Colouration: Body light brownish grey in colour. E. longispinis was reported from Visakhapatnam , 20 21 Four dark edged bands, three below the dorsal fin, Andaman Nicobar , Tamil Nadu and from Andhra SAHOO et al.: REPORT OF FOUR GROUPERS FROM ODISHA COAST 1187

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