Giant grouper

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Giant grouper
Epinephelus lanceolatus.jpeg
Giant grouper at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Genus: Epinephelus
Species:
E. lanceolatus
Binomial name
Epinephelus lanceolatus
(Bloch, 1790)
Synonyms [2]
  • Holocentrus lanceolatusBloch, 1790
  • Promicrops lanceolatus(Bloch, 1790)
  • Serranus lanceolatus(Bloch, 1790)
  • Serranus geographicus Valenciennes, 1828
  • Serranus abdominalis Peters, 1855
  • Batrachus gigas Günther, 1869
  • Oligorus goliath De Vis, 1882
  • Serranus phaeostigmaeus Fowler, 1907
  • Stereolepoides thompsoniFowler, 1923

The giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), also known as the Queensland groper (grouper), brindle grouper or mottled-brown sea bass, 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 has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution and is one of the largest extant species of bony fish.

Contents

Description

Juvenile coloration Epinephelus lanceolatus young.jpg
Juvenile coloration

The giant grouper has a robust body which has a standard length equivalent to 2.4 to 3.4 times its depth. The dorsal profile of the head and the intraorbital area are convex, The propercle has a rounded corner and a finely serrated margin. The gill cover has a convex upper margin. [3] There are 11 spines and 14–16 soft rays in the dorsal fin while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. [2] The caudal fin is slightly rounded. There are 54 to 62 scales in its lateral line. [3] The adults are grayish-brown in colour overlain with a mottled pattern and with darker fins. The small juveniles are yellow with wide, dark irregular bars and irregular dark spots on their fins. [4] The giant grouper can grow to huge size with the maximum recorded standard length being 270 centimetres (110 in), although they are more common around 180 centimetres (71 in), and a maximum published weight of 400 kilograms (880 lb). [2]

Distribution

The giant grouper has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, it is the most widely distributed species of grouper in the world. [5] It occurs from the Red Sea and the eastern coasts of Africa as far south as Algoa Bay in South Africa and across the Indian Ocean into the Western Pacific Ocean as far east as the Pitcairn Islands and Hawaii. They occur as far north as southern Japan and as far south as Australia. [1] In Australia it is found from Rottnest Island in Western Australia north and east along the tropical coasts of Australia, including offshore reefs, and then south along the eastern coast to Woy Woy, New South Wales. It also occurs around Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve in the Tasman Sea. There have also been reports from the Younghusband Peninsula in South Australia [4] and north eastern New Zealand. [1] It is absent from the Persian Gulf [2] but it is present off the coast of Pakistan and southern Oman. [1] It has been listed as a potential invasive species in the Bahamas but its presence in that region requires verification. [5]

Habitat and biology

The giant grouper is a species of shallow water and can be found at depths of 1 to 100 metres (3.3 to 328.1 ft). It is associated with reefs and is the largest known bony fish found on reefs. [1] Large specimens have been caught from shore and in harbours. [3] They are found in caves and in wrecks while the secretive juveniles occur in reefs and are infrequently observed. [2] The adults are mainly solitary and hold territories on the outer reef and in lagoons. They have also been caught in turbid water over silt or mud sea beds by prawn fishermen. [1] The giant grouper is an opportunistic ambush predator which feeds on a variety of fishes, as well as small sharks, juvenile sea turtles, crustaceans and molluscs which are all swallowed whole. [6] Fish which inhabit coral reefs and rocky areas favour spiny lobsters as prey; a 177-centimetre (70 in) specimen taken off Maui in Hawaii had a stomach content of two spiny lobsters and a number of crabs. Fish living in estuarine environments in South Africa were found to be feeding almost exclusively on the crab Scylla serrata . [3] This species is normally solitary and long-lived. They are, however, curious and frequently approach divers closely. They are not generally considered dangerous to humans but divers are advised to treat large specimens with caution and not to hand feed them. [6]

Reproduction

Like most groupers, giant groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites. They spawn on a lunar cycle, with spawns lasting about 7 days. They are aggregative broadcast spawners, usually with several females per male. Studies in captive populations suggest that the dominant male and female begin the spawning event as nearly the only spawners for the first day or two, but other members of the aggregation fertilize more eggs as the event progresses, with even the most recently turned males fathering offspring. [7] Giant groupers are diandric protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that although some males develop from reproductively functional females other males start to produce sperm without ever having gone through a phase as a reproductive female. [8]

Taxonomy

The giant grouper was first formally described as Holocentras lanceolatus in 1790 by the German medical doctor and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) with the type locality given as the East Indies. [9] Felipe Poey assigned the giant and goliath groupers ( Epinephelus itajara and E. quinquefasciatus , which was then regarded as a synonym of E. itajara) to the genus Promicrops but in 1972 this was designated as a subgenus of Epinephelus . However, these species are still each other's closest relatives. [3]

Use

The giant grouper is a highly valued food fish and is taken by both commercial and recreational fisheries. It is valued in Hong Kong as a live fish for the live reef food fish trade, especially smaller specimens, [1] and its skin, gall bladder, and stomach, are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This species is cultured in mariculture and this practice is widespread but there is a restricted supply of juveniles, although hatcheries in Taiwan have produced captive bred juveniles, exporting some for to be grown on in other parts of South-East Asia. [5] Many of the fish produced in aquaculture are hybrids between this species and E. fuscoguttatus . [1]

Cultural references

The first fish to undergo chemotherapy was Bubba, a giant grouper at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grouper</span> Subfamily of fishes

Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graysby</span> Species of fish

The 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 western Atlantic. It is associated with reefs and is a quarry species for commercial and recreational fisheries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malabar grouper</span> Species of fish

The Malabar grouper also known as blackspot rockcod, estuary rockcod, giant rock cod, greasy grouper, Malabar rockcod, Morgan's cod or speckled 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 Indo-Pacific region. It has entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea by way of the Suez Canal as a Lessepsian migrant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greasy grouper</span> Species of fish

The greasy grouper, also known as the Arabian grouper or greasy rockcod, is an Indo-Pacific fish species of economic importance belonging to the family Serranidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong grouper</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Epinephelus albomarginatus</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Epinephelus andersoni</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus andersoni, the catface grouper, brown-spotted grouper, catface rockcod or brown spotted rockcod, 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 where it is associated with reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow grouper</span> Species of fish

The yellow grouper, also known as the banded 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 Asian waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Its natural habitats are shallow seas and rocky reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-spotted grouper</span> Species of fish

The orange-spotted grouper, also known as the brown-spotted rockcod, estuary cod, estuary rockcod, goldspotted rockcod, greasy cod, North-west groper, orange spotted cod or blue-and-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 has an Indo-Pacific distribution and is found in marine and brackish waters.

<i>Epinephelus marginatus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus marginatus, the dusky grouper, yellowbelly rock cod or yellowbelly 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. This species is the best known grouper species of the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf grouper</span> Species of fish

The Gulf 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 Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mottled grouper</span> Species of fish

The mottled 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 Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potato grouper</span> Species of fish

The potato grouper, also called the potato cod or potato bass, 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 has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific goliath grouper</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Mycteroperca rosacea</i> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honeycomb grouper</span> Species of fish

The honeycomb grouper, also known as black-spotted rock-cod, common birdwire rockcod, dwarf spotted rockcod, dwarf-spotted grouper, honeycomb cod, wire-netted reefcod or wire-netting 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 has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution where it is found in coastal and offshore reefs in shallow waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longfin grouper</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Epinephelus ongus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus ongus, the white-streaked grouper, specklefin grouper, lace-finned rock-cod, specklefin rockcod, wavy-lined tock-cod, white-speckled grouper or white-spotted rock-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 has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution and it is found in brackish waters as well as marine reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red hind</span> Species of fish

The red hind, also known as the koon or lucky grouper in Caribbean vernacular, 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 native to the western Atlantic Ocean where it ranges from the eastern United States to Brazil. It is the most common species of Epinephelus in the Caribbean.

<i>Epinephelus rivulatus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus rivulatus, the halfmoon grouper, halfmoon rockcod, Chinaman rockcod, Charlie court cod, green-finned rock cod, or white-dotted 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 Indo-Pacific region.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fennessy, S.; Pollard, D.A.; Samoilys, M. (2018). "Epinephelus lanceolatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T7858A100465809. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T7858A100465809.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Epinephelus lanceolatus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Heemstra, P.C. & J.E. Randall (1993). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rock-cod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date (PDF). FAO Fish. Synopsis. Vol. 125. FAO, Rome. pp. 174–175. ISBN   92-5-103125-8.
  4. 1 2 Bray, D.J. (2019). "Epinephelus lanceolatus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Epinephelus lanceolatus (giant grouper)". CAB International. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Giant Queensland groper". Department of Primary Industries. State of New South Wales. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  7. Bright, David; Reynolds, Adam; Nguyen, Nguyen H.; et al. (June 2016). "A study into parental assignment of the communal spawning protogynous hermaphrodite, giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)". Aquaculture. 459: 19–25. Bibcode:2016Aquac.459...19B. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.03.013.
  8. Peter Palma; Akihiro Takemura; Gardel Xyza Libunaoa; et al. (2019). "Reproductive development of the threatened giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus". Aquaculture. 509: 1–7. Bibcode:2019Aquac.509....1P. doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.05.001.
  9. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Holocentrus lanceolatus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  10. "'Bubba,' Famed Cancer-surviving Grouper, R.I.P.; 'Overcame Some Incredible Odds'". Underwatertimes.com News Service. Underwatertimes. 2006-08-24. Retrieved 27 May 2012.