Humpback grouper

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Humpback grouper
Cromileptes altivelis skansen 2006.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
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 altivelisValenciennes, 1828
    • Epinephelus altivelis(Valenciennes, 1828)

The humpback grouper (Cromileptes altivelis), panther grouper, or (in Australia) barramundi cod 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 occurs in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Contents

Systematics

The humpback grouper was first formally described as Serranus altivelis in 1828 by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes (1794-1865) with the type locality given as Java. [4] In 1839 the English naturalist William John Swainson (1789-1855) placed it in the subgenus Chromileptes, which was later created as a monotypic genus. [2] Swainson spelt the genus as Chromileptes [5] although 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 tropical waters of the central 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 speared in the waters off South Florida, raising fears that it could become invasive, similar to the lionfish. [8]

Feeding and behaviour

The diet of this grouper is based on small fishes and crustaceans. [3] Like the members of its family, the humpback grouper is 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]

Humpback grouper, labelled as a spotted barramundi specimen, Reef HQ, Townsville, Queensland Spotted Barramundi.jpg
Humpback grouper, labelled as a spotted barramundi specimen, Reef HQ, Townsville, Queensland

In the aquarium

This grouper is kept in marine aquaria. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serranidae</span> Family of fishes

The Serranidae are a large family of fishes belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species in 65 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers. Although many species are small, in some cases less than 10 cm (3.9 in), the giant grouper is one of the largest bony fishes in the world, growing to 2.7 m in length and 400 kg (880 lb) in weight. Representatives of this group live in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide.

<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">Brownspotted grouper</span> Species of fish

The brownspotted grouper, also known as the brown spotted reef cod, brown-spotted rockcod, coral grouper or honeycomb 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 an Indo-Pacific distribution but in the northern Indian Ocean this distribution is discontinuous. It forms part of a species complex with two closely related species in the genus Epinephelus.

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

The blacktip grouper, also known as the redbanded grouper, blacktipped cod, black-tipped rockcod, footballer cod, red-barred cod, red-barred rockcod, scarlet rock-cod or weathered 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 is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It is the type species of the genus Epinephelus.

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

The yellow-edged lyretail also known as the yellowedge coronation trout, fairy cod, lunar tail rock cod, lunartailed cod, lyre-tail cod or moontail seabass,, 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 and is more common than the congeneric white-edged lyretail.

<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.

<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">Red grouper</span> Species of fish

The red 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 western Atlantic Ocean.

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

The camouflage grouper, also known as the blue-tailed cod, camouflage rockcod, small-toothed rockcod, smooth flowery rock-cod, snout-spot grouper or snout-spot 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 where it is associated with reefs.

<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 found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where it is associated with reefs. It is related to the Atlantic goliath grouper.

<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 cyanopodus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus cyanopodus, the speckled blue grouper, also known as the blue maori, purple rock cod, speckled grouper or yellowfin 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 Western Pacific Ocean where it occurs in corals.

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

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 Occean.

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

Epinephelus epistictus, the dotted grouper, black-dotted rock-cod, black-spotted grouper, broken-line grouper or spottedback 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 found in the Indo-Pacific where its distribution ranges form the Red Sea to Australia and Japan. The dotted grouper may grow up to 70–80 cm length. It is a demersal fish found at 70–300 m depths.

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

Epinephelus corallicola, also known as the black-dotted cod, coral cod, coral rockcod or duskyfin 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 erythrurus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus erythrurus, the cloudy grouper, also known as the cloudy 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 is found in marine and brackish waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

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

Epinephelus faveatus, the barrel-chested grouper, also known as the Indian 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 associated with reefs in the Indian Ocean.

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

Epinephelus latifasciatus, the striped grouper, banded grouper or spotfin 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 Indo-Pacific region.

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

Epinephelus sexfasciatus, the sixbar grouper, sixbar rockcod or six-banded 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 Indo-Pacific region.

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

Epinephelus bleekeri, the duskytail grouper, Bleeker's grouper or Bleeker's 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 Indo-Pacific region where it is associated with shallow banks.

References

  1. 1 2 Sadovy, Y.; Chan, T.T.; Choat, J.H.; Liu, M. (2018). "Cromileptes altivelis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T39774A100458943. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T39774A100458943.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 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. Schoelinck, Charlotte; Hinsinger, Damien D.; Dettaï, Agnès; Cruaud, Corinne; Justine, Jean-Lou (2014). "A phylogenetic re-analysis of groupers with applications for ciguatera fish poisoning". PLOS ONE. 9 (8): e98198. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...998198S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098198 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   4122351 . PMID   25093850. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. 1 2 "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.