Humpback grouper

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Humpback grouper

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Tribe: Epinephelini
Genus: Cromileptes
Swainson, 1839
Species:
C. altivelis
Binomial name
Cromileptes altivelis
(Valenciennes, 1828)
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Genus
  • Species
    • Serranus altivelis Valenciennes, 1828
    • Epinephelus altivelis (Valenciennes, 1828)

The humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis), panther grouper, or (in

Western Pacific Ocean
.

Systematics

The humpback grouper was first formally

Fishbase spells it as Cromileptes.[3] Recent molecular analyses based on five genes show that Cromileptes altivelis is included in the same clade as species of Epinephelus. Consequently, the species should be included in Epinephelus as Epinephelus altivelis.[6]

Description

The humpback grouper is a medium-sized fish which grows up to 70 cm (28 in).[7] Its particular body shape makes this grouper quite impossible to mix up with other fishes. Its body is compressed laterally and is relatively high. This stocky and strange visual effect is accented by its concave profile and its elongated snout which gives it a humpbacked appearance.

The young have a white background with round black spots and are continuously swimming head down. The adults have a body colouration with variances of grey and beige with darker blotches variable in size on the body. Small black spots cover the whole body.

Distribution and habitat

It is widely distributed throughout the

Indo-West Pacific region.[7] The humpback grouper lives in clear waters from lagoons and seaward reefs with a preference for dead or silty areas. They are found in a range of depth from 2 to 40 m (6.6 to 131.2 ft).[3]

In 2012, a single individual was

lionfish.[8]

Feeding and behaviour

The diet of this grouper is based on small

demersal, solitary (except during mating periods), defends a territory, and is an ambush predator. Its feeding activity is maximal at sunrise and/or at sunset. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite
; in other words, all individuals are born female, with the ability to transform to males as they grow older. Typically, only the most dominant, mature females undergo this transformation in the absence of a dominant male.

Conservation

The humpback grouper has been give

Data Deficient status by the IUCN. It is a highly valued food fish, especially in Southeast Asia and in this region it is overexploited. It is bred in aquaculture but there is no evidence that captive breeding has reduced the fishing pressure on wild populations. There is little data on the populations but it is suspected that the population have declined historically and that they continue to do so. Australia has put strong conservation measures in place for this species (no take species in Queensland and possession limits in other states, e.g. Western Australia) but it is lacking protection elsewhere.[1]

Townsville, Queensland

In the aquarium

This grouper is kept in

marine aquaria.[9]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T39774A100458943.en
    . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Epinephelinae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2020). "Cromileptes altivelis" in FishBase. December 2020 version.
  4. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Serranus altivelis". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ^ Swainson W. (1839). On the natural history and classification of fishes, amphibians, & reptiles, or monocardian animals. Vol. 2. Spottiswoode & Co., London.
  6. PMID 25093850. Open access icon
  7. ^ a b "Humpback Grouper". EOL. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ^ Wadlow, K. (9 January 2013). "Is The Humpback Grouper The Latest Invasive Fish For The Florida Keys?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Cromileptes altivelis". Reefapp. Retrieved 20 June 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chromileptes altivelis.
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