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SERRAN Cephal 8
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Cephalopholis analis (Valenciennes, 1828)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Strawberry hind Fr - Vielle fraise Sp - Cherna frutillera NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body depth 2.7 to 3.1 times in standard length, distinctly less than head length. Interorbital area convex; maxilla scaly, reaching to or well beyond vertical at rear edge of eye; preopercle rounded, the lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth or with a few serrae; sides of lower jaw with 4 or 5 rows of teeth, innermost teeth distinctly larger than others; lower gillrakers 14 to 16. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 15 soft ray, anal fin with 3 spines and 9 or 10 soft rays; pectoral fins 1.4 to 1.6 in head length, pectoral rays 17 or 18; pelvic fins not reaching anus; caudal fin rounded. Pored lateral line scales 48 to 53; lateral scales series 90 to 103. Colour: head, body and fins mottled orange-red; central rear margin of caudal fin bluish white with a blackish inner edge, becoming broader and submarginal at corners of fin; margin of soft portion of anal fin except posteriorly , and to lesser extent the dorsal fin, bluish usually persisting as dusky in preserved specimens); small pale blotches usually present on head, body and median fins (may be pale bluish on head). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Cephalopholis aurantia: orange-yellow to dull pink with reddish-orange to yellow dots on head and anterodorsally on body; caudal fin with a narrow, pale bluish rear margin and a conspicuous black submarginal line; pelvic fins 1.8 to 1.9 times in head (1.9 to 2.2 times in head in C. analis). C. nigripinnis: distal 2/3 of pectoral fin, most of anal in, rear part of dorsal fin, and all of caudal fin dusky black: usually 2 dark dots at tip of lower C. aurantia jaw; pored lateral line scales 53 to 70 (48 to 53 in C. analis). C. sonnerati: lateral line scales 73 to 76; lateral scale series 115 to 128 (90 to 103 in C. analis); body reddish (darker posteriorly, especially in specimens larger than 30 cm standard length); head with small red spots separated by a purple network.
C. nigripinnis SIZE:
Maximum: 22 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Within the Western Indian Ocean known from the east coast of Africa (but not in the Red Sea), Comores, Seychelles, Mauritius, Réunion and Chagos Archipelago. Also widely distributed in the Eastern C. sonnerati Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific, east- ward to the Pitcairn Islands.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
Perhaps the most common species of grouper on coral reefs below 40 m depth. This species is too small to be of significant commercial importance.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Caught on hook and line and in traps.
Marketed mostly fresh.
SERRAN Cephal 9
1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Cephalopholis argus (Schneider, 1801)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Peacock grouper Fr - Vielle cuisinier Sp - Cherna pavo real NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body depth 2.7 to 3.2 times in standard length, distinctly less than head length. Maxilla reaches well past eye; preopercle rounded, its ventral edge fleshy. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pectoral rays 16 to 18; pectoral fins 1.5 to 2.0 times in head length; caudal fin rounded. Auxiliary scales present on body; pored lateral line scales 46 to 51; lateral scale series 95 to 110.
Colour: head, body and fins dark brown, covered with small, black-edged blue spots; 5 or 6 broad pale vertical bars often present on rear half of body; a narrow white margin along rear edge of pectoral and median fins. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Cephalopholis miniata: body reddish, with small blue spots not extending onto underside of lower jaw; pectoral fins longer, 1.5 to 1.7 times in head (1.5 to 2.0 times in C. argus); dorsal fin soft rays 14 or 15 (15 to 17 in C. argus). C. hemistiktos: no blue spots on dorsal half of body; pectoral fins longer, 1.4 to 1.6 times in head; dorsal fin soft rays 14 or 15. C. miniata C. oligosticta: colour orange-red in life, with a few scattered pale blue spots on head, body and fins; pectoral fins longer, 1.4 to 1.6 times in head; dorsal fin soft rays 15; lower edge of preopercle bony.
SIZE:
Maximum: 50 cm. C. hemistiktos
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
The most common and widespread species of the genus, extending from the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean (south to Durban) to the Central Pacific as far as the Pitcairn Islands. Introduced to the Hawaiian Islands. C. oligosticta A shallow-water species generally found on coral reefs to depths of 20 m.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
Coral reef areas of the Indo-West Pacific.
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 and dried salted. SERRAN Cephal 10
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Cephalopholis aurantia (Schneider, 1801)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Golden hind Fr - Vielle dorée Sp - Cherna dorada
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body depth 2.7 to 2.9 times in standard length, less than head length. Maxilla reaches past eye; preopercle rounded low fleshy; subopercle and interopercle serrated; lower gillrakers 15 to 17. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 14 or 15 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays; pectoral rays 17 or 18; pectoral fins 1.4 to 1.6 times in head length, reaching well past anus; pelvic fins 1.8 or 1.9 tunes in head length; caudal fin rounded. Pored lateral line scales 47 to 53; lateral scale series 103 to 117. Colour: orange-yellow to dull pink with reddish-orange to yellow dots on head and anterodorsally on body; caudal fin with a narrow, pale, bluish rear margin and conspicuous black submarginal line. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Cephaiopholis analis: mottled orange-red; pale blue margin on rear of caudal fin becomes broader and submarginal at corners: pelvic fins following distinctly short of anus (pelvics of C. aurantia reach to or almost to anus); lateral scale series 90 to 103 (103 to 117 in C. aurantia). C. nigripinnis: pectoral and median fins dusky black; pored lateral line scales 53 to 70 (47 to 53 in C. aurantia); pelvic fins not reaching anus. C. analis C. sonnerati: pored lateral line scales 66 to 76; lateral scale series 115 to 128; body reddish (darker posteriorly in fish larger than 30 cm); head with sma11 red spots separated by a purple network.
SIZE:
Maximum: 60 cm. C. nigripinnis
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Throughout most of the Western Indian Ocean, but not in the Red Sea or the "Gulf"; extends south to Durban (South Africa). Also found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific. Few specimens in collections, but this may be due to its occurrence in relatively deep water (generally more than 100 m). C. sonnerati
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
Rocky bottoms in depths of 50 to 150 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 and dried salted.
SERRAN Cephal 11
1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY : SERRANIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Cephalopholis boenack (Bloch, 1790)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Cephalopholis pachycentron (Valenciennes, 1828)
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Chocolate hind Fr - Vielle chocolat Sp - Cherna chocolate
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body depth 2.6 to 2.8 times in standard length, less than head length. Maxilla reaches past eye; preopercle rounded, lower edge fleshy; lower gillrakers 15 or 16. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8 soft rays; pectoral fins 1.4 to 1.5 times in head length with 15 to 17 rays; pelvic fins reaching past anus or falling somewhat shorter. Pored lateral line scales 47 to 51; lateral scale series 86 to 97.
Colour: head, body and fins dark brown; body with indications of slightly irregular blackish-brown bars; head with irregular, broad dark bands radiating from eye and a blackish spot between upper 2 opercular spines; soft portions of median fins with a narrow bluish-white margin (except centrally on caudal fin). No blue spots. (Mention of blue spots for this species in the literature appear to be based on misidentifications of the Western Pacific C. microprion (Bleeker). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Cephalopholis argus: small blue spots all over head, body and fins; anal fin rays 9 (8 in C. boenack); auxiliary scales on body.
Other species of Cephalopholis: usually 9 anal fin rays; colour pattern not as above.
SIZE:
Maximum: 20 cm.
C. argus
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Throughout most of the Western Indian Ocean, south to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique, but not in the Red Sea or the "Gulf". Also present in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
Taken incidentally by other fisheries throughout its range.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
This species is probably too small to be of commercial importance.
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