
Thursday 15 February
The World's Favourite Unloved Species 2018 - the Galapagos Racer
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Actinopterygii |
Order | Perciformes |
Family | Serranidae |
Genus | Epinephelus (1) |
An intricate pattern of spots, blotches and bars decorates the robust body of the epaulet grouper. With the exception of the underside, the anterior half of its yellowish-grey body (including the head) is covered in numerous orange-red or reddish-brown spots. In contrast, several alternating, light-and-dark, vertical bars extend backwards from around the middle of the body to the caudal fin (2) (3). In common with many other groupers, the mouth is large, and the long dorsal fin is divided into a conspicuously spiny portion followed by a soft portion (4).
Other than its apparent habitat preferences, almost nothing is known about the biology of the epaulet grouper (1). However, like other Epinephelus species, it is probably a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that individuals begin mature life as female and change sex later to become male (2) (3). Epinephelus species tend to be voracious predators, with fish and crustaceans taken near the sea bottom forming the bulk of prey (2) (5).
Classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Although the epaulet grouper is caught in traditional fisheries in parts of its range, there is no published fisheries information available. Nonetheless, this species is not thought to be currently threatened (1).
While there are currently no conservation measures in place for the epaulet grouper, it is possible that it occurs in marine protected areas within its range, including in the Red Sea (1).
For further information on the conservation of groupers see:
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This species is featured in:
This species is featured in Jewels of the UAE, which showcases biodiversity found in the United Arab Emirates in association with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.
Thursday 15 February
The World's Favourite Unloved Species 2018 - the Galapagos Racer
Thursday 01 February
Thursday 01 February