Mycteroperca interstitialis

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Mycteroperca interstitialis
Mycteroperca interstitialis - pone.0010676.g054.png
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. interstitialis
Binomial name
Mycteroperca interstitialis
(Poey, 1860)
Synonyms [2]
  • Serranus interstitialisPoey, 1860
  • Labrus guaza Linnaeus, 1758
  • Serranus dimidiatusPoey, 1860
  • Mycteroperca dimidiata(Poey, 1860)
  • Serranus falcatusPoey, 1860
  • Mycteroperca falcata(Poey, 1860)
  • Mycteroperca calliuraPoey, 1865
  • Trisotropis chlorostomusPoey, 1867
  • Mycteroperca roquensis Martín Salazar, 1956

The yellowmouth grouper (Mycteroperca interstitialis), 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.

Contents

Description

Mycteropreca insterstitialis has an elongate, robust and compressed body which is no deeper at the origin of the dorsal fin than it as the origin of the anal fin. [3] It standard length is 3.0 to 3.4 times its depth. The preopercle is angular and has an obvious lobe at its angle, this lobe has enlarged serrations, there is a clear incision in the preopercle above this lobe. [4] The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 16-18 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 10-12 soft rays. [2] The dorsal fin has a pointed rear margin while the anal fin has a pointed margin at its lower posterior edge in adults. [3] The caudal fin is rounded. [4] The adults are pale brownish-grey in background colour marked with closely set small brown spots on the dorsal half of the head and body. In some fish the body is marked with irregular dark bars. The margin of the spiny part of the dorsal fin and the inside of the mouth and along the outer margin of the rear part of the jaws is yellow. The pectoral fins have dark coloured rays with pale membranes between them and a whitish margin. There is a dark line above the rear of the upper jaw. Juveniles, and subadults, have the dorsal part of the head and body coloured dark brown, although this may be broken into wide dark bars or saddles, changing abruptly to white ventrally. There is a white stripe running from the tip of the lower jaw along the top of the snout and head, and along the base of the dorsal fin. [3] The maximum published total length for this species is 84 centimetres (33 in), although fish around 40 centimetres (16 in) in length are more common. The maximum published weight is 10.2 kilograms (22 lb). [2]

Distribution

Mycteroperca interstitialis is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. Its distribution runs south along the coast of the United States from Cape Hatteras in North Carolina to the Bahamas, including Bermuda, and into the Gulf of Mexico, throughout the Caribbean Sea to Brazil. In Brazil it is found from Maranhão to Santa Catarina, including the islands of Trindade and Fernando de Noronha. [1]

Habitat and biology

Mycteroperca interstitialis is mainly found over rocky or coral bottoms from the low water mark down to at least 55 metres (180 ft), although small and medium-sized fishes are frequently recorded in mangrove-lined lagoons. It is commoner around islands than it is in continental waters. [1] It feeds on fishes. [2] such as silversides, brown chromis ( Chromis multilineata ) and striped parrotfish ( Scarus iseri ) The juveniles are aggressive mimics of the clown wrasse ( Halichoeres maculipinna ), using their resemblance to allow them to approach potential prey. Spawning takes place in all months of the year, peaking in April and May. For most of the year they spawn in small groups but during the April and May peak season they form large spawning aggregations. The eggs and young are pelagic and there is no parental care. Females can become sexually mature at 2 years old, but 4 years old is more normal, They are protogynous hermaphrodites, and between 5 and 14 years old the females change sex into males. [5]

Taxonomy

Mycteroperca interstitialiswas first formally described as Serranus interstitialis in 1860 by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey (1799-1891) with Cuba being given as the type locality. [6]

Utilisation and conservation

Mycteroperca interstitialis is an important species in the fisheries of Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean where it is caught with hook-and-line, traps, and spear. It is a scarce species and is not normally a primary target for fisheries [5] which target M. bonaci and M. phenax . There have been reports of significant declines in many areas where there are large-scale grouper fisheries. Conservation measures which have been undertaken have not been effective and more measures are required and so the IUCN have classified it as Vulnerable. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

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, the misty grouper, and the warsaw grouper. This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to Brazil.

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

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

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<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.

<i>Mycteroperca</i> Genus of fishes

Mycteroperca is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, groupers from the subfamily Epinephelinae, part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. They are predatory fish, largely associated with reefs and are found in tropical and subtropical seas in the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are important target species for fisheries.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Padovani-Ferreira, B.; Bertoncini, A.A.; Craig, M.T. (2018). "Mycteroperca interstitialis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T64410A46915949. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T64410A46915949.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Mycteroperca interstitialis" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 3 "Species: Mycteroperca interstitialis, Yellowmouth grouper". Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 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. 266–267. ISBN   92-5-103125-8.
  5. 1 2 "Mycteroperca interstitialis (Yellowmouth Grouper)" (PDF). The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago. University of the West Indies. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Serranus interstitialis". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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