Mycteroperca bonaci

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Mycteroperca bonaci
Mycteroperca bonaci 237932730.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Genus: Mycteroperca
Species:
M. bonaci
Binomial name
Mycteroperca bonaci
Poey, 1860
Synonyms [2]
  • Bonaci araraParra, 1787
  • Serranus bonaciPoey, 1860
  • Serranus brunneusPoey, 1860
  • Serranus decimalisPoey, 1860
  • Serranus arara Storer, 1860
  • Serranus cyclopomatusPoey, 1861
  • Serranus latepictusPoey, 1861
  • Trisotropis aguajiPoey, 1867
  • Mycteroperca bonaci var. xanthosticta Jordan & Swain, 1885

Mycteroperca bonaci, the black grouper, black rockfish or marbled rockfish, 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. Other fish are sometimes called the black grouper including the similar gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis), the misty grouper (Hyporthodus mystacinus), and the warsaw grouper (Hyporthodus nigritus). This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to Brazil.

Contents

Description

Black grouper Mycteroperca bonaci.jpg
Black grouper

Myctoperca bonaci has an oblong, laterally compressed body [3] with a standard length which is 3.3 to 3.5 times its depth. It has an evenly rounded preopercle with no incisions or lobes at its angle. [4] The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 15-17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 11-13 soft rays, [2] both fins having rounded margins. The caudal fin is truncate to emarginate, althoughit may be convex if spread widely. [4] This species has an overall t's an olive grey colour and is marked with dark blotches and brassy hexagonal spots over the head and flanks. [5] The pectoral fins are sooty brown, fading to orange towards the margin; the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin, as well as the forward edge of the pelvic fin have a dark margin. [4] This fish attains a maximum total length of 150 centimetres (59 in), although they are more common at around 70 centimetres (28 in) and a maximum published weight of 100 kilograms (220 lb). [2]

Distribution

Abrolhos Archipelago Mycteroperca bonaci RZPG.jpg
Abrolhos Archipelago

Mycteroperca bonaci is found in the western Atlantic where its range extends from Cape Canaveral in Florida and Bermuda south to the Bahamas, into the Gulf of Mexico as far north as Alabama and from southern Texas along the coast of Mexico and Cuba. It occurs throughout the Caribbean Sea, along the coast of South America to Santa Catarina in Brazil. Its range extends to the Brazilian islands of Trindade and Fernando de Noronha. There is a gap in its distribution along the northern coast of South America between Paramaribo in Suriname and Maranhão in Brazil. Occurrences in United States waters north to Massachusetts are juveniles and therefore considered vagrants. [1]

Habitat and biology

Mycteroperca bonaci occurs over rocky bottoms and coral reefs at depths of 10 to 30 metres (33 to 98 ft), however in the eastern Gulf of Mexico it is normally encountered at depths of more than 30 metres (98 ft). [4] It is usually a solitary species, [2] the adults feeding mainly on fishes, such as grunts, snapper and herrings, [5] and the juveniles feed on crustaceans. [2] Black groupers have been recorded forming seasonal feeding aggregations along the outer continental shelf off Brazil, these coincide with spawning aggregations of some fish species the groupers prey on. They are monandric protogynous hermaphrodites and form spawning aggregations which have been reported from in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Females attain sexual maturity at around 5years old and at a length of around 82.6 centimetres (32.5 in) and the change of sex to males occurs when they are around 15 years old and at a mean length of 121.4 centimetres (47.8 in). [1]

Predators and parasites

The recorded predators of Mycteroperca bonaci include sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) while they may also be prey for great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and moray eels. [5] Black groupers are hosts to a variety of common parasites which include endoparasites affecting stomach and intestines and ectoparasites which live on its skin. [6]

Taxonomy

Mycteroperca bonaci was first formally described as Serranus bonaci in 1860 by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey (1799-1891) with Cuba being given as the type locality. [7]

Utilisation

Mycteroperca bonaci is quite tasty and an important food fish. It is fished for sale and for sport. [1]

Conservation

Mycteroperca bonaci is an IUCN Red List near threatened species, vulnerable to increases in exploitation because it is a relatively slow breeder. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

The gag grouper, also known as velvet rockfish, the gag, or charcoal belly, 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 comes from warmer parts of the West Atlantic, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. It is a drab, mottled-gray fish lacking the distinguishing features of most other groupers. Its pattern of markings resemble the box-shaped spots of the black grouper. It lacks the streamer-points on the tail fin that scamp and yellowmouth grouper have and lacks yellow coloration around the mouth.

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

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

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

The smooth 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 and is found in the western Indian Ocean.

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

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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.

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

The snowy 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.

The Venezuelan 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 northern South America and the Greater Antilles.

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

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.

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

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.

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

The tiger 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 warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.

<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>Cephalopholis panamensis</i> Species of fish

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

The scamp grouper, also known as 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 western Atlantic 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.

<i>Hyporthodus mystacinus</i> Species of fish

Hyporthodus mystacinus, the misty grouper, black grouper, convict grouper, eightbar grouper or moustache 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 primarily found in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico with populations present around the Galapagos Islands and Central American coastlines.

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

The oval grouper also known as the blackfin grouper, melon-seed grouper or oval 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 Western Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Padovani-Ferreira, B.; Bertoncini, A.A.; Pollard, D.A.; Erisman, B.; Sosa-Cordero, E.; Rocha, L.A.; Aguilar-Perera, A.; Brule, T. (2018). "Mycteroperca bonaci". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T132724A46916253. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132724A46916253.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Mycteroperca bonaci" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. ↑ "Species: Mycteroperca bonaci, Black grouper". Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 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, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date (PDF). FAO Fish. Synopsis. Vol. 125. FAO, Rome. pp. 262–263. ISBN   92-5-103125-8.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mycteroperca bonaci". Discover Fishes. Florida Museum. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Bailly, Nicolas (2008). "Mycteroperca bonaci". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Serranus bonaci". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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