click for previous page SERRAN Aethal 1

1983

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

Aethaloperca rogaa (Forsskål, 1775)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: rogaa (Forsskål, 1775)

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO: En - Redmouth Fr - Vielle roga Sp - Cherna roga

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth greater than head length, contained 2.1 to 2.4 times in standard length. Dorsal profile of head steep; hump on nape in large specimens; teeth in 3 or 4 rows at sides of lower jaw; preopercle finely serrated; gillrakers on lower limb of first arch 9 plus some rudiments. with 9 spines and 17 or 18 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pelvic fins subequal to pectorals, reaching anus or beyond; caudal fin truncate.

Colour: uniformly dark brown or black; inside of mouth and gill cavity scarlet; young with crescentic white margin to caudal fin and soft-rayed part of dorsal fin edged with white. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Cephalopholis species: caudal fin rounded; body not so deep.

Gracila albomarginata: body not so deep; soft dorsal rays 15 (17 or 18 in A. rogaa): dorsal profile of head not steep.

SIZE:

Maximum. 60 cm.

Cephalopholis Aethaloperca rogaa

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: caudal fin

Within the area, recorded from the southern coast of the Arabian peninsula, the Red Sea, East African coast, Seychelles, Chagos Archipelago, Mal- dives, Laccadives and Sri Lanka. Also in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Paci- fic, to Japan and the Philippines.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Apparently rare.

Gracila albomarginata SERRAN Anyper 11

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

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

Anyperodon leucogrammicus (Valenciennes, 1828)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Fr - Mérou élégant Sp - Mero elegante NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Head and body compressed; body depth 3.2 to 3.5 times in standard length. Head length distinctly greater than body depth; preopercle rounded; lower serrae not much enlarged; no teeth on palatine bones on each side of roof of mouth); 2 rows of small teeth at sides of lower jaw. 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 17; caudal fin rounded. Pored lateral line scales 63 to 71; lateral scales series 110 to 125. Colour: head and body greenish grey, with numerous small orange-red spots extending onto dorsal fin and base of caudal fin; 2 or 3 horizontal bluish-white streaks often present on body. Juveniles with alternating blue and red stripes and 1 or 2 black spots at base of caudal fin. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Epinephelus species: palatine bones with teeth; body less compressed.

SIZE:

Maximum: 52 cm.

Epinephelus

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific; in the Western Indian Ocean it is known to occur along the East African coast from the Red Sea south to Mozambique, and around the Seychelles, Reunion and Chagos Archipelago.

Fairly common on coral reefs in less than 20 m depth.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coral reefs in depths of 5 to 30 m.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with hook and line, traps and gillnets.

Marketed fresh.

SERRAN Cephal 1

1983

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

Cephalopholis miniata (Forsskål, 1775)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Epinephelus miniatus Forsskål, 1775

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Vermilion seabass Fr - Vielle étoilée Sp - Cherna estrellada NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth 2.5 to 2.9 times in standard length, less than head length. Maxilla scaly, reaches to or beyond vertical at rear edge of orbit; preopercle rounded, the lower edge fleshy; lower gillrakers 14 to 16. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 14 to 16 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 17 or 18; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 17 or 18; pectoral fins 1.3 to 1.7 times in head; pelvic fins 1.7 to 2.3 times in head, not reaching past anus; caudal and anal fins rounded. Pored lateral line scales 47 to 56; lateral scale series 99 to 115. Colour: orange-red, with numerous small blue spots on body, head and median fins; blue spots extend onto maxilla and lips, but not on underside of lower jaw. Pectoral fins orange-red at base, rest of fin yellow-orange. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Cephalopholis argus: ground colour of body dark brown; underside of lower jaw with blue spots; pectoral fins 1.5 to 2.0 times in head length (1.7 to 2.3 times in C. miniata); auxiliary scales present on body scales, dorsal soft rays usually 16 (14 to 16 in C. miniata). C. hemistiktos: no spots on dorsal part of body; pectoral fin dusky brown; dorsal fin rays usually 14; anal fin pointed. C. argus

C. oligosticta: lower edge of preopercle bony (exposed); pored lateral line scales 60 to 71 (47 to 55 in C. miniata).

SIZE:

Maximum: 40 cm. C. hemistiktos

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Throughout the Western Indian Ocean southward to Durban and including the Red Sea and the "Gulf". Also widespread in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Cen- tral Pacific. Generally found on well-developed coral reefs in depths of 2to48m.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coastal coral reefs.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species, although it is commonly seen in markets.

Caught with hook and line, traps and gillnets.

Marketed fresh and dried salted. SERRAN Cephal 3

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

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

Cephalopholis sonnerati (Valenciennes, 1828)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Cephalopholis purpureus Fourmanoir, 1966

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Tomato hind Fr - Vielle ananas Sp - Cherna piva

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body depth 2.3 to 2.6 times in standard length, greater than or subequal to head length. Dorsal profile of head above eye and nape strongly convex in adults. Maxilla reaches past eye; preopercle rounded, the lower edge fleshy; lower gillrakers 14 to 16. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 18 to 20; pectoral fins subequat to or less than pelvics, 1.5 to 1.7 times in head length; caudal and anal fins rounded. Pored lateral line scales 66 to 76; lateral scale series 110 to 140. Colour: body bright orange-red to red, usually with scattered faint bluish-white spots; head purplish with numerous close-set orange-red spots, often with a dark reddish spot about as large as eye on opercular flap; fins red, the membranes of soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins dusky; body, caudal and soft dorsal fins with purple spots. Large specimens over 30 cm standard length darker than small fish, especially posteriorly; at 40 cm, the fish is usually entirely dark dusky reddish. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Cephalopholis aurantia: body depth less (2.7 to 2.9 times in standard length versus 2.3 to 2.6 in C. sonnerati); lateral line scales fewer (47 to 53 versus 66 to 76 in C. sonnerati). Colour: orange or golden.

C. analis: body depth distinctly less than head length, 2.7 to 3.1 times in standard length; lateral line scales 48 to 53.

C. nigripinnis: lateral line scales 53 to 70; C. auraotia body depth less. 2.7 to 3.2 times in standard length); pelvic fins distinctly shorter than pectorals, not reaching anus.

Other Cephalopholis species: in most body depth less (2.6 to 3.2 times in standard length); colour not bright red with purple network on head.

SIZE: C. analis Maximum: 57 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Widespread in the Western Indian-Ocean south to Durban, but not reported from the red sea or the “Gulf”. Also found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific east to the Marshall Islands and Samoa. C. nigripinnis A common species; adults in fairly deep water (30 to 100 m).

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coral reef areas in 30 to 100 m.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species, but it is commercially important in coral reef areas.

Caught with hook and line, traps and gillnets.

Utilized fresh and dried salted.

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