Alphestes immaculatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: | Serranidae |
Subfamily: | Epinephelinae |
Genus: | Alphestes |
Species: | A. immaculatus |
Binomial name | |
Alphestes immaculatus Breder, 1936 | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Alphestes immaculatus, the Pacific mutton hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish which is classified within the subfamily Epinephelinae, the groupers, in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is a predatory fish of the rocky coastlines of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Alphestes immaculatus has a strongly compressed, deep body with large eyes and a short snout and a straight forehead. [3] The dorsal fin has 11 spines and 17-19 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 9 soft rays. It has a rounded preopercle with an obviously serrated rear edge and a large spine, which is usually covered with skin, projecting downward and forward at its angle. The head and body are marbled reddish brown in colour, with obscure bars and small dark and pale spots all over the head, body and dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The pectoral fins have 7 or 8 irregular horizontal series of small dark spots running across them. The maximum recorded total length is 30 centimetres (12 in) but they are more normally around 18 centimetres (7.1 in). [2]
Alphestes immaculatusis found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from southern Baja California and the Gulf of California south as far as Peru. It is also found around the Islas Marías and Revillagigedos of Mexico, the Galápagos, Malpelo Island in Colombia and Cocos Island in Costa Rica. [1]
Alphestes immaculatus is a secretive, camouflaged species of shallow water found in sea grass beds and rocky reefs at depths between 1 and 50 metres (3 ft 3 in and 164 ft 1 in). During the day it stays hidden in crevices or lying among seaweed, relying on their cryptic colouration to escape detection by predators. Occasionally, a fish will partially bury itself in sand. They become mobile at night, searching for their main prey of benthic invertebrates [2] and small fishes. It is normally a solitary species but has been seen in small groups of up to 6 individuals. They can live for up to nine years. [1] Muscle hepcidin expression could be significant in the immune response in fish. The expression of HAMP1 gene of A. immaculatus in muscle at basal conditions could describe a mechanism of protection upon the invasion of pathogens before a strong stimulus. [4]
Alphestes immaculatus was first formally described in 1936 by the American ichthyologist Charles M. Breder Jr. (1897-1983). [5] It has been confused with the closely related and somewhat similar mutton hamlet Alphestes afer of the western Atlantic. [3]
Alphestes immaculatus is not a target of commercial fisheries although some artisanal fisheries do catch it using lines or gill nets. In Mexico the value of this species at market has increased as larger grouper species stocks dwindle through overfishing. [1]
The Atlantic wreckfish, also known as the stone bass or bass groper, is a marine, bathydemersal, and oceanodromous ray-finned fish in the family Polyprionidae. It has a worldwide, if disjunct, distribution in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The halfmoon, also known as the blue perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea chub from the subfamily Scorpidinae, part of the family Kyphosidae. It is native to the coasts of the eastern Pacific Ocean off western North America. It is fished for using hook and line and it is a desirable food fish.
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The pink maomao, also known as the longfin perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a member of the subfamily Anthiinae which is part of the grouper and sea bass family Serranidae. It is found in the southern Pacific and the southeastern Indian Ocean.
Paralabrax clathratus, the kelp bass, bull bass or calico bass, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae, classified as part of the family Serranidae which includes the groupers and anthias. It is found in the eastern North Pacific Ocean where it is an important species for both recreational and commercial fisheries.
The marbled grouper, donkey fish, mutton hamlet, rockhind and sicklefish grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is a predatory reef fish which is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
The Hong Kong grouper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in eastern and southeastern Asian waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Its natural habitats are shallow seas and coral reefs.
Epinephelus albomarginatus, the white-edged grouper, white-edged rockcod or captain fine, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean and it is associated with coral reefs. It is a target species for commercial and recreational fisheries.
The tenspine grouper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found along the western coast of Mexico and Central America, but is a very rare fish of which little information exists.
The sailfin grouper, also known as the bacalao grouper, colorado grouper or yellow grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found off islands in the eastern Pacific.
The sawtail grouper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses.. It is endemic to the western coasts of Mexico. The sawtail grouper commonly lives on fields of large boulders with gorgonians and black corals.
The Pacific goliath grouper, also known as the Pacific itajara grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where it is associated with reefs. It is related to the Atlantic goliath grouper.
Cephalopholis panamensis, the Pacific graysby or Panama graysby, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Mycteroperca rosacea, the leopard grouper or golden grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Eastern Central Pacific that occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
The longfin grouper, also known as the longfin rockcod, bar-breasted rock-cod, Gilbert's rock-cod, honeycomb rockcod, spotted groper or wirenet cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
The yellowmouth grouper, also known as the crossband rockfish, grey mannock, hamlet, harlequin rockfish, princess rockfish, rockfish, salmon grouper, salmon rock fish or scamp, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Caribbean and in the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also found in pockets in Brazil. It is a fairly large fish and it gets its name from the yellow around its mouth.
Epinephelus labriformis, commonly called starry grouper or flag cabrilla is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Cephalopholis sexmaculata, sixblotch hind, freckled cod, freckled rock-cod, sixband cod, six-banded rockcod, sixband rockcod or sixspot rockcod is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. This fish occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Alphestes is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, groupers from the subfamily Epinephelinae in the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and the sea basses. Alphestes species are found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
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