Epinephelus marginatus
Epinephelus marginatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: | Serranidae |
Subfamily: | Epinephelinae |
Genus: | Epinephelus |
Species: | E. marginatus
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Binomial name | |
Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)
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Synonyms[2] | |
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Epinephelus marginatus (Latin pronunciation:
Description
Epinephelus marginatus is a very large, oval-bodied and large-headed fish with a wide mouth which has a protruding lower jaw.
Distribution
Epinephelus marginatus has two disjunct distribution centres, the main one is in the eastern Atlantic from the west coast of Iberia south along the western coast of Africa to the
Habitat
Epinephelus marginatus is
Biology
Epinephelus marginatus adults are solitary and territorial, preferring areas with a rocky substrate but both adults and juveniles will enter brackish waters, such as estuaries. Their main food is
E. marginatus is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that all fish begin adult life as females but as they grow larger and older they develop into males. They attain sexual maturity at quite a late age, females begin to breed when they are around five years of age, and then between their 9th and 16th years they change into males, most commonly at 12.[3] The fish start to transform into males at a length of 65 cm,[6] although most change sex when they are between 80 and 90 cm in total length.[2] In some populations the presence of large female fish suggests that not all females change sex.[6] During the breeding season small clusters of a few tens of individuals form at specific spawning sites, an exception to their normally solitary existence. Known sites where E. marginatus traditionally gather to spawn include the Medes Islands Marine Reserve in Spain, off Lampedusa in Italy and Port-Cros National Park in France, all in the Mediterranean; fishermen in Brazil suspect there are aggregations off the coast of Santa Catarina but so far none has been definitely found.[6] In the Mediterranean spawning lasts from June to September, mating is polygynous and the spawning clusters normally have seven females to each male. Off Brazil E. marginatus reproduces in the early summer, between November and December.[7] While spawning, the dominant males set up territories and aggressively defend them from neighbouring males and smaller females. They are reported to live for up to 50 years.[3]
Taxonomy
Epinephelus marginatus was first formally
Fishing
Epinephelus marginatus is a popular food fish and is caught across its range by commercial fishermen while large adult fish are targeted as trophies by
In some countries the dusky grouper is considered a delicacy. Referring to its preference among restaurant guests, the Spanish say 'De la mar el mero y de la tierra el carnero' (From the sea the dusky grouper, from the land the lamb).[12]
Conservation
Epinephelus marginatus catch declined by 88% in seven countries between 1990–2001, these countries forming a significant part of its overall distribution. In other regions, such as West Africa, where this species is heavily exploited, there is little data about the status of this fish. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed E. marginatus as being Vulnerable, citing a suspected reduction in the population size reduction in excess 50% over the last three generations and where the causes of the decline continue. Conservation measures have included a spearfishing ban for ten years in France and bag limits in South Africa. In addition, a number of Marine Protected Areas have been established to protect the habitat of E. marginatus.[1] In Turkey recommended actions have included no take zones along the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea coasts and a total fisheries ban for a minimum of 3–5 years.[13]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Epinephelus marginatus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)". Wildscreen Arkive. Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ C.J. Hureau (ed.). "Bass (Epinephelus guaza)". Marine Species Identification Portal: Fishes of the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean. ETI Bioinformatics. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ Kelig Mahé; Marie-Laure Cochard; Jean Claude Quéro; et al. "First record of Epinephelus marginatus (Serranidae: Epinephelinae) in the eastern English Channel" (PDF). Cybium. 36 (3): 485–486.
- ^ hdl:10400.3/1622.
- CiteSeerX 10.1.1.429.7525.
- '^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "'Serranus marginatus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Epinephelus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Bailly, Nicolas (2008). Bailly N (ed.). "Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)". FishBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ M.T.Spedicato; G. Lembo; P. Di Marco; G. Marino (1995). "Preliminary results in breeding dusky grouper Ephinepeplus marginatus (Lowe, 1834)" (PDF). Marine aquaculture finfish species diversification; Seminar of the CIHEAM Network on Technology of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (TECAM), 1995/06/14-17, Nicosia (Cyprus). CIHEAM, Zaragoza. pp. 131–148. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
- ^ "Del mar, el mero; de la tierra, el cordero" (in Spanish). Instituto Cervantes. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Current Status of the Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) in Turkey and Recommendations for its Protection". United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
External resources
- Photos of Epinephelus marginatus on Sealife Collection