The orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), 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 subfamilyEpinephelinae which is part of the familySerranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It has an Indo-Pacific distribution and is found in marine and brackish waters.
The orange-spotted grouper has an elongate body which has a standard length that is 2.9 to 3.7 times its depth. The dorsal profile of the head is flat or slightly convex between the eyes, the preopercle has enlarged serrations at its angle and a shallow notch just above the angle. The upper margin of the gill cover may be straight or slightly convex.[3] The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 13-16 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays.[2] The membranes between the dorsal fin spines are obviously incised. The caudal fin is rounded. There are 58-65 scales in the lateral line. The head and body are light brown on the back lightening to whitish on the underparts.[3] There are four oblique "H-shaped" dark markings on the flanks and 3-4 dark saddle like blotches along the back while the head, body and fins are covered in numerous small brown or orange spots. The spots are larger and less numerous in juveniles, shrinking in size and multiplying in number as the fish grows.[4] The maximum published total length is 120 centimetres (47 in) and the maximum weight is 15 kilograms (33 lb).[2]
Distributionedit
The orange-spotted grouper has an Indo-Pacific distribution. It is found along the eastern coast of Africa which extends from the Gulf of Suez south as far as Durban in South Africa. It is also found off Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion and in the Persian Gulf eastward into the Pacific Ocean as far as Palau and Fiji. Its range extends north to Japan and south to Australia.[1] In Australia it occurs from Carnarvon, Western Australia along the tropical northern coasts to the Solitary Islands in New South Wales.[4] It was observed first in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel in 1969 and has been recorded rarely since.[5] This species has been tested in several countries for mariculture, which is a possible vector for its introduction.[6]
Habitat and biologyedit
The orange-spotted grouper occurs in coral reefs, especially those along mainland coasts and large islands. The juveniles are frequently encountered in estuaries where there are sand, mud and gravel substrates and in mangroves. This is a predatory species which preys on fishes, shrimp, crabs and other benthiccrustaceans. At night these fish will at least partially bury themselves in the mud. They are diandric protogynous hermaphrodites, some males develop from juveniles to males while others develop from functional females to males when they reach lengths of around 67 centimetres (26 in) and an age of 7.5 years. Off Papua New Guinea they have been reported to gather to spawn in aggregations of around 1,500 individuals and this takes place for 3–4 days each month over a muddy and sandy substrate. In the Persian Gulf there is a spawning season which occurs from March to June.[1] The eggs and larvae are thought to be pelagic.[2]
Importance to humansedit
Unfortunately, orange spotted groupers have been severely overexploited and fished. In any country where they can be found, their numbers have dwindled or are dwindling. They are mostly targeted using fish traps, and have spectacular tasting flesh[citation needed] which attains a high value in markets. In the UAE, the brunt of the overexploitation is easily visible. It has been assessed that they have been overexploited 7 times the normal level, and fisherman have described: "20 years ago, one net catches you 50kg. Now we use 100 nets and get 10kg of fish". They are slow-growing due to their quite lazy preying methods, mature late, and produce little eggs. The more sought-after larger male fish have been most affected, creating an imbalance between the genders affecting their populations further.[citation needed]
The orange-spotted grouper is a target for commercial fisheries throughout its range where it is esteemed as a food fish. It is sold live as well as fresh and it has been attempted to culture it and breed it in aquaculture.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdAmorim, P.; Choat, J.H.; Fennessy, S.; Law, C.; Ma, K.; Myers, R.F.; Nair, R.; Rhodes, K.; Sadovy, Y.; Samoilys, M.; Suharti, S.; To, A. (2018). "Epinephelus coioides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T44674A2999451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T44674A2999451.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
^ abcdFroese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Epiphenelus coioides" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
^ abcHeemstra, 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. 130–132. ISBN92-5-103125-8.
^ abBray, D.J. (2019). "Epinephelus coioides". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^Paolo Parenti & Nocola Bressi (2001). "First record of the orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides (Perciformes : Serranidae) in the northern Adriatic Sea". Cybium. 25: 281–284.
orange, spotted, grouper, orange, spotted, grouper, epinephelus, coioides, also, known, brown, spotted, rockcod, estuary, estuary, rockcod, goldspotted, rockcod, greasy, north, west, groper, orange, spotted, blue, yellow, grouper, species, marine, finned, fish. The orange spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides 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 Orange spotted grouperConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Vulnerable IUCN 3 1 Persian Gulf Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder PerciformesFamily SerranidaeSubfamily EpinephelinaeTribe EpinepheliniGenus EpinephelusSpecies E coioidesBinomial nameEpinephelus coioides Hamilton 1822 Synonyms 2 Bola coioides Hamilton 1822 Serranus nebulosus Valenciennes 1828 Cephalopholis nebulosus Valenciennes 1828 Epinephelus nebulosus Valenciennes 1828 Serranus suillus Valenciennes 1828 Epinephelus suillus Valenciennes 1828 Homalogrystes guntheri Alleyne amp Macleay 1877 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Habitat and biology 4 Importance to humans 5 Taxonomy 6 Utilisation 7 ReferencesDescription edit nbsp Epinephelus coioides at Heron Island AustraliaThe orange spotted grouper has an elongate body which has a standard length that is 2 9 to 3 7 times its depth The dorsal profile of the head is flat or slightly convex between the eyes the preopercle has enlarged serrations at its angle and a shallow notch just above the angle The upper margin of the gill cover may be straight or slightly convex 3 The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 13 16 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays 2 The membranes between the dorsal fin spines are obviously incised The caudal fin is rounded There are 58 65 scales in the lateral line The head and body are light brown on the back lightening to whitish on the underparts 3 There are four oblique H shaped dark markings on the flanks and 3 4 dark saddle like blotches along the back while the head body and fins are covered in numerous small brown or orange spots The spots are larger and less numerous in juveniles shrinking in size and multiplying in number as the fish grows 4 The maximum published total length is 120 centimetres 47 in and the maximum weight is 15 kilograms 33 lb 2 Distribution editThe orange spotted grouper has an Indo Pacific distribution It is found along the eastern coast of Africa which extends from the Gulf of Suez south as far as Durban in South Africa It is also found off Madagascar Mauritius and Reunion and in the Persian Gulf eastward into the Pacific Ocean as far as Palau and Fiji Its range extends north to Japan and south to Australia 1 In Australia it occurs from Carnarvon Western Australia along the tropical northern coasts to the Solitary Islands in New South Wales 4 It was observed first in the Mediterranean Sea off Israel in 1969 and has been recorded rarely since 5 This species has been tested in several countries for mariculture which is a possible vector for its introduction 6 Habitat and biology editThe orange spotted grouper occurs in coral reefs especially those along mainland coasts and large islands The juveniles are frequently encountered in estuaries where there are sand mud and gravel substrates and in mangroves This is a predatory species which preys on fishes shrimp crabs and other benthic crustaceans At night these fish will at least partially bury themselves in the mud They are diandric protogynous hermaphrodites some males develop from juveniles to males while others develop from functional females to males when they reach lengths of around 67 centimetres 26 in and an age of 7 5 years Off Papua New Guinea they have been reported to gather to spawn in aggregations of around 1 500 individuals and this takes place for 3 4 days each month over a muddy and sandy substrate In the Persian Gulf there is a spawning season which occurs from March to June 1 The eggs and larvae are thought to be pelagic 2 Importance to humans editUnfortunately orange spotted groupers have been severely overexploited and fished In any country where they can be found their numbers have dwindled or are dwindling They are mostly targeted using fish traps and have spectacular tasting flesh citation needed which attains a high value in markets In the UAE the brunt of the overexploitation is easily visible It has been assessed that they have been overexploited 7 times the normal level and fisherman have described 20 years ago one net catches you 50kg Now we use 100 nets and get 10kg of fish They are slow growing due to their quite lazy preying methods mature late and produce little eggs The more sought after larger male fish have been most affected creating an imbalance between the genders affecting their populations further citation needed Taxonomy editThe orange spotted grouper was first formally described by the Scottish physician and naturalist Francis Buchanan Hamilton 1762 1829 as Bola coioides in 1822 with the type locality given as the estuary of the Ganges 7 This species closely resembles and is probably closely related to E malabaricus and E tauvina 3 Utilisation editThe orange spotted grouper is a target for commercial fisheries throughout its range where it is esteemed as a food fish It is sold live as well as fresh and it has been attempted to culture it and breed it in aquaculture 1 References edit a b c d Amorim P Choat J H Fennessy S Law C Ma K Myers R F Nair R Rhodes K Sadovy Y Samoilys M Suharti S To A 2018 Epinephelus coioides IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T44674A2999451 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T44674A2999451 en Retrieved 17 November 2021 a b c d Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2019 Epiphenelus coioides in FishBase December 2019 version a b c Heemstra P C amp 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 130 132 ISBN 92 5 103125 8 a b Bray D J 2019 Epinephelus coioides Fishes of Australia Museums Victoria Retrieved 29 June 2020 Paolo Parenti amp Nocola Bressi 2001 First record of the orange spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides Perciformes Serranidae in the northern Adriatic Sea Cybium 25 281 284 Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea Epinephelus coioides 2nd Edition 2021 366p CIESM Publishers Paris Monaco https ciesm org atlas fishes 2nd edition Epinephelus coioides pdf Eschmeyer William N Fricke Ron amp van der Laan Richard eds Bola coioides Catalog of Fishes California Academy of Sciences Retrieved 29 June 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orange spotted grouper amp oldid 1194531040, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
