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Epinephelus itajara

(Southern Jewfish)

Overview

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A solitary species[1] occurring in shallow, inshore areas. Found on rock, coral , or mud bottoms [2]. Juveniles found in mangrove areas and brackish estuaries[2]. Large adults may be found in estuaries[2]. Adults appear to occupy limited home ranges with little inter-reef movement. Feeds primarily on crustaceans, particularly spiny lobsters as well as turtles and fishes , including stingrays. Territorial near it's refuge cave or wreck where it may show a threat display with open mouth and quivering body. Reported to reach weights of more than 315 kg [3].

Critically Endangered
Threat status

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Carib:

Muluwaimon

Common Names in Creole, Fren:

Vièy

Common Names in Creole, French:

Vièy, Vièy

Common Names in Creoles and Pidgins,:

Vièy

Common Names in Danish:

Havaborre, Jødefisk, Jødefisk, Jødefisk

Common Names in English:

Black Bass, Blackbass, Esonue Grouper, Giant Grouper, Giant Seabass, Goliath Grouper, Grouper, Guasa, Hamlet, Itajara, Jewfish, Southern Jewfish, Spotted Jewfish

Common Names in Finnish:

Meriahven, Raitameriahven

Common Names in Fon:

Tobokogbo

Common Names in Fon GBE:

Tobokogbo

Common Names in French:

Mérou, Mérou Géant, Mérou, Mérou Géant, Mérou, Mérou Géant, Têtard, TÃtard, Têtard, Têtard, Vièy

Common Names in Galibi:

Muluwaimon

Common Names in German:

Judenfisch, Zackenbarsch

Common Names in Greek:

Rophós, Rophós, Rophós

Common Names in Greek, Modern (1453):

Rophós

Common Names in Hebrew:

Lokos

Common Names in Icelandic:

Vartari

Common Names in Italian:

Cernia Gigante, Sciarrano

Common Names in Japanese:

Hata

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

伊氏石斑魚, 斑點寬額鱸, 斑点宽é¢é²ˆ, 斑點寬é¡é±¸, 伊æ°çŸ³æ–‘é­š, 伊æ°çŸ³æ–‘é±¼

Common Names in Norwegian:

Havabbor, Judefisk

Common Names in Other:

Itagwa

Common Names in Palicur:

Tipa

Common Names in Polish:

Itajara Zmienna

Common Names in Portuguese:

Badejo, Camapu, Canapú, Canapú, Canapu, Canapu-Guaçu, Canapu-Guaçu, Canapu-Guaçu, Canapuguaçu, Canapuguaçu, Cunapu-Guaçu, Cunapu-Guaçu, Cunapu-Guaçu, Garoupa, Merete, Mero, Mero-Canapu, Mero-Canapum, Mero-Preto, Mero-Tigre, Merote, Mirete

Common Names in Russian:

джуфиш, окунь гигантский, джуфиш, окунь гигантÑкий

Common Names in Serbian:

Bodeljka, Kirnja

Common Names in South American India:

Gran Morgoe, Granmorgoe, Graumurg

Common Names in Spanish:

Cherna, Cherne, Guasa, Guato, Guaza, Mero, Mero Batata, Mero Güasa, Mero Güasa, Mero Guasa, Mero Güasa, Mero Pintado, Mero Sapo

Common Names in Sranan:

Gran Morgoe, Granmorgoe, Graumurg

Common Names in Swedish:

Fläckig Judefisk, Fläckig Judefisk, Fläckig Judefisk, Havsabborre, Judefisk

Common Names in Tagalog:

Goliabao

Common Names in Turkish:

Orfoz, Ortoz

Description

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Family Serranidae

Distribution: Tropical and temperate oceans. Some enter freshwater . Operculum bearing 3 spines - a main spine with one below and one above it. Lateral line complete and continuous, not reaching onto caudal fin (lacking in one species). Dorsal fin may be notched , with 7-12 spines. Three spines on anal fin. Caudal fin usually rounded , truncate , or lunate ; rarely forked . Tip of maxilla exposed even with mouth closed . No scaly axillary pelvic process . One spine on pelvic fin; soft rays 5. Branchiostegal rays usually 7. Vertebrae 24-26. Monoecious with some functional hermaphrodites; groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites. Anthiinae are mostly small colorful planktivores feeding primarily on tiny crustaceans and fish eggs . They change sex from females to a few dominant males. Despite their attractive colors they need zooplankton as food and are thus not well suited for aquariums . Groupers attain up to 3 m maximum length and weights of up to 400 kg . They are bottom-dwelling predators and highly commercial food fish . Groupers are hardy aquarium fish, but grow rapidly. Grammistinae get their name from a bitter tasting skin toxin , grammistin, which can kill other animals in an aquarium. They feed on crustaceans and fishes .The family Serranidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 62 genera and 449 species. It may be found in Marine , Brackish , and Freshwater environments and is primarily Marine. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name : Latin, serranus = derived from saw, fish saw. 1803

Physical Description

Species Epinephelus itajara

Distinctive Features: Goliath grouper are the largest members of the sea bass family in the Atlantic Ocean. The body is robust and elongate ; its widest point is more than half its total length. The head is broad with small eyes. The dorsal fins are continuous with the rays of the soft dorsal longer than the spines of the first dorsal fin. The membranes between the dorsal fin elements are notched . Pectoral fins are rounded and noticeably larger than the pelvic fins. Bases of the soft dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales and thick skin . The caudal fin is rounded.

Dentition: Goliath grouper have three to five rows of teeth in the lower jaw. The presence of a number of short weakly developed canine teeth is useful in distinguishing this species from other North Atlantic groupers.

Color:

This fish is generally brownish yellow, gray, or olive with small dark spots on head , body, and fins . Large adults are somber-colored. Three or four irregular faint vertical bars are present of the sides of individuals less than 3 feet (1m) in length . The rear half of the caudal penduncle of these small individuals is covered by another similar bar. The tawny colored juveniles , although not as colorful as some grouper species, are attractively patterned; exhibiting a series of dark, irregular, vertical bands and blotches.

Size/Age/Growth

The goliath grouper is the largest grouper in the western Atlantic. Growing to lengths of 8.2 feet (2.5 m ), this grouper can weigh as much as 800 pounds (363 kg ). In Florida, the largest hook and line captured specimen weighed 680 pounds (309 kg).

The oldest verifiable goliath grouper on record is 37 years. However, this specimen was sampled from a population of individuals depressed by fishing pressure and it is projected that goliath grouper may live much longer , perhaps as much as 50 years. Males achieve sexual maturity at four to six years of age and lengths of 43-45 inches (110-115 cm), females at six to seven years of age and 47-53 inches (120-135 cm). Growth rates are slow, averaging approximately four inches (10 cm) per year until the age of six years. Growth declines to about 1.2 inches (3 cm) per year at age 15, and less than .4 inches (1 cm) per year after 25 years.

Habitat

Occurring in shallow, inshore waters to depths of 150 feet (46 m ), the goliath grouper prefers areas of rock, coral , and mud bottoms . Strikingly patterned juveniles inhabit mangroves and brackish estuaries, especially near oyster bars . The goliath grouper is notable as one of the few groupers found in brackish waters. This fish is solitary by nature, with the adults occupying limited home ranges . It is territorial near areas of refuge such as caves, wrecks, and ledges, displaying an open mouth and quivering body to intruders. Additional warning may be delivered in the form of the goliath grouper's ability to produce a distinctly audible rumbling sound generated by the muscular contraction of the swim bladder. This sound travels great distances underwater and is also used to locate other goliath grouper.

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 3,219 meters (0 to 10,561 feet).[4]

Biome: Brackish water, saltwater . Reef-associated .

Ecology: General Ecology
Found from inshore to about 100 m in reef, mangrove , seagrass, and estuarine habitats (Sadovy and Eklund 1999).

Juveniles live in shallow bays , holes , below undercut ledges in swift tidal creeks draining mangrove swamp, rivers and estuaries while adults live around structures in, near, and offshore (Bullock et al. 1992, Gerber et al. 2005, Koenig et al. in press ). Juveniles exhibit high site fidelity to mangrove habitat for 5–6 years, then emigrate to offshore reefs at body length of about 1 m TL (Koenig et al. in press).

During a survey of the freshwater fish of southern Florida from 1976 to 1983, no E. itajara was collected although the salinity-tolerant juveniles could be found in shallow, costal waters (Loftus and Kushlan 1987). In 181 sites, presence of mangrove areas appears to be important for juveniles (Sadovy and Eklund 1999). Koenig et al. (in press) demonstrated the high nursery value of mangrove to juvenile goliath grouper.

Diet
The species feeds on a wide diversity of fishes and invertebrates (Sadovy and Eklund 1999). It is a classic apex predator , large, rare and only a few individuals occur on any given reef unit (Huntsman et al. 1999)

Reproduction
Up to 100, sometimes more, individuals aggregate to spawn at specific times and locations. The aggregations last only a few weeks each year and represent most of the total annual reproductive effort (Sadovy and Eklund 1999). Its reproductive season occurs between June and December, with peak activity indicated from July through September in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Bullock et al. 1992). Goliath Grouper is one of the few groupers that aggregate in relatively shallow (10–50 m) water (Coleman et al. 2002).

Possible courtship activities (without spawning) were observed on a wreck in the eastern Gulf of Mexico at 33 m depth in August 1990 (Colin 1994). Wrecks are often noted to be spawning areas for this species.

A study indicated that a 1,322 mm SL and a 1,397 mm SL female had a batch fecundity of 38,922,168 ±1,518,283 and 56,599,306 ±1,866,130 oocytes, respectively (Bullock and Smith 1991).

According to a conceptual model for the role of dispersal in a simple life history model of E. itajara, such groupers exhibit a positive response to the establishment of a marine reserve. Apart from inducing an increase in population growth rate , implementation of a reserve could increase population recovery rates by increasing reproductive output (Gerber et al. 2005).

Age, growth and longevity
E. itajara grow slowly relative to their potential maximum size. Growth rates for male and female are similar, averaging >100 mm per year through age 6, then slowing to about 30 mm per year by age 15, and finally declining to (-0.126(Age+0.49)) (Bullock et al. 1992).

Maximum size and age recorded were 2,000–2,500 mm TL (Heemstra and Randall 1993), 37 years (female) and 26 years (male) (Bullock et al. 1992), respectively.

Genetic Studies
Loci were found to be scorable and polymorphic across Epinephelus spp. , and might be useful for population genetic studies in which appropriate management of the target population can be achieved (Zatcoff et al. 2002).


List of Habitats:9.5Marine Neritic - Subtidal Sandy-Mud 9.8Marine Neritic - Coral Reef 9.9Marine Neritic - Seagrass (Submerged) 9.10Marine Neritic - Estuaries 10.1Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m) 12.1Marine Intertidal - Rocky Shoreline 12.4Marine Intertidal - Mud Flats and Salt Flats 13.4Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes

Biology

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Diet

Goliath grouper feed largely on crustaceans (in particular spiny lobsters, shrimps and crabs), fishes (including stingrays and parrotfishes ), octopus , and young sea turtles. Prey is ambushed, caught with a quick rush and snap of the jaws . The sharp teeth are adapted for seizing prey and preventing escape although most prey is simply engulfed and swallowed whole.

Reproduction

Many groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites - a condition in which individuals first mature as females only later to become males. And although goliath grouper are assumed to conform to this reproductive mode , a 1992 study of the age, growth, and reproduction of the species found no transitional individuals, the most direct evidence of sex reversal . However, the significance of this finding is of diminished value when one considers that transitional individuals are known to be rare amongst confirmed species of protogynous hermaphrodites, such as the red grouper (Epinephelus morio) and gag (Mycteroperca microlepis). Additionally, exceptions to the rule of protogyny within a species may be common. One author offers three potential exceptions that may explain why some sexually mature male goliath groupers are smaller than some mature females - a scenario that at first would seem to be contradictory for a protogynous hermaphrodite.

In support of the notion that the species is a protogynous hermaphrodite is the fact that the largest goliath groupers are invariably male.

Spawning occurs during the summer months of July, August, and September throughout the goliath grouper's range and is strongly influenced by the lunar cycle. Spawning goliath grouper form impressive offshore aggregations of up to 100 or more individuals. Ship wrecks, rock ledges, and isolated patch reefs are preferred spawning habitat. In the 1980's these aggregations reached a low of less than 10 individuals per site as fishing pressure greatly impacted this species. Since receiving legislative protection the spawning aggregations of goliath grouper have risen to 20-40 individuals per location. The females release eggs while the males release sperm into the open offshore waters . After fertilization, the eggs are pelagic, dispersed by the water currents . Upon hatching , the larvae are kite-shaped, with the second dorsal-fin spine and pelvic fin spines greatly elongated. These pelagic larvae transform into benthic juveniles at lengths of one inch (2.5 cm), around 25 or 26 days after hatching.

Behavior

Predators:

Predators of groupers include large fish such as barracuda, king mackerel and moray eels , as well as other groupers. The sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus ) and the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) are also known to feed on groupers. Large adults of this species likely have very few natural predators.

Sound types : booms, grunts ,. Sound organ: swim bladder.

Taxonomy

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Ambiguous Synonyms

  1. Promicrops ditobo Roux and Collignon, 1954
  2. Promicrops esonue Ehrenbaum ,, 1915
  3. Serranus galeus M�ller and Troschel, 1848
  4. Serranus mentzelli Valenciennes, 1828

Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Epinephalus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822)
  2. Epinephelus itajarra (Lichtenstein, 1822)
  3. Epinephelus quinquefasciatus (Bocourt, 1868)
  4. Promicrops itaiara (Lichtenstein, 1822)
  5. Serranus guasa Poey, 1860
  6. Serranus itajara Lichtenstein, 1822
  7. Serranus quinquefasciatus Bocourt, 1868

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Synonym: Promicrops itaiara. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: September 13, 1995.

The German ichthyologist M .H.C. Lichtenstein described the goliath grouper as Serranus itajara in an 1822 publication regarding the natural history of Brazil. In an 1884 work, and quot;The fishes of the Florida Keys , and quot; David Starr Jordan proposed the inclusion of the goliath grouper in Epinephelus (Bloch 1793) and this combination remains in use today. Of incidental note is the fact that various authors have incorrectly spelled the specific epithet and quot;itajara and quot; as and quot;itaiara. and quot; This name comes from the Greek Epinephelus meaning clouded over, referring to the membrane of another species of grouper. The derivation of the species name itajara is unclear. Synonyms include Serranus guasa Poey 1860 and Serranus quinquefasciatus Bocourt 1868. A number of authors treat the name Promicrops itajara as valid taxonomy for the goliath grouper.

Family : Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets .

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Epinephelus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 241 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

E. malabaricus · E. acanthistius (Rooster Hind) · Mycteroperca rubra · E. adcensionis · E. adscencionis · E. adscenscionis · E. adscensionis (Rock Grouper) · E. adscensionus · E. adsencionis · E. adsencionus · E. adsensianis · E. aeneus (White Grouper) · E. aereolatus · E. aerolatus · Alphestes immaculatus · E. akaara (Redspotted Grouper) · E. albimaculatus · E. albomarginatus (White-Edge Freshwater Whipray) · E. costae · E. amblycephalus (Bighead Grouper) · E. analis · E. analogus (Rock Bass Spotted Cabrilla) · E. andersoni (Brown-Spotted Rockcod) · E. angularis · E. apua · E. areolatus (Yellow-Spotted Rock-Cod) · E. argus · E. ascensionis · E. aspersus · E. aurantius · E. australis · E. awoara (Yellow Goosefish) · E. bilobatus (Frostback Rockcod) · E. bimaculatus · E. bleekeri (Bleeker´s Rock Cod) · E. boenack · E. bonaci · E. bontoides (Palemargin Grouper) · E. bruneus (Longtooth Grouper) · E. brunneus · E. caeruleopunctatus · E. caninus (Dogtooth Grouper) · E. capreolus · E. carponotatus · E. chabaudi (Moustached Grouper) · E. chalinius · E. chlorocephalus (Tonga Grouper) · E. chlorostigma (Brown-Spotted Reef-Cod) · E. chrysotaenia · E. cifuentesi (Olive Grouper) · E. ciliatus · E. clippertonensis · E. coeruleopunctatus (Small-Spotted Rock Cod) · E. coioides (Orange-Spotted Grouper) · E. corallicola (Duskyfin Grouper) · E. costae (Goldblotch Grouper) · E. cruentatus · E. cubanus · E. cyanopodus (Speckled Blue Grouper) · E. cylindricus · E. daemelii (Spotted Black Grouper) · E. damelii · E. damelli · E. darwinensis (Darwin Grouper) · E. bleekeri · E. diacanthus (Six-Barred Reef Cod) · E. dianthicanus · E. dispar · E. doederleinii · E. drummond-hayi · E. drummondhayi (Calico Grouper) · E. drummond hayi · E. drysipolius · E. elongatus · E. emoryi · E. epistictus (Black-Spotted Grouper) · E. ergastularius (Down-Under Grouper) · E. erythraeus · E. erythrurus (Cloudy Rock Cod) · E. exsul (Tenspine Grouper) · E. faciatus · E. longispinis · E. fasciatomaculatus · E. fasciatomaculosus (Rock Grouper) · E. fasciatus (Black-Tipped Rock-Cod) · E. faveatus (Barred-Chest Grouper) · E. flavocaeruleus (Blue and Yellow Reef Cod) · E. flavocoeruleus · E. flavolimbatus (Yellowfinned Grouper) · E. fulva · E. fulvus · E. fuscoguttatus (Brown-Marbled Grouper) · E. fuscus · E. fuseoguttatus · E. gabriellae (Gabriella´s Grouper) · E. longispinis · E. marginatus · E. gilberti · E. goreensis (Redbanded Grouper) · E. octofasciatus

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Claro, R. (1994). Características generales de la ictiofauna. p. 55-70. In R. Claro (ed.) Ecología de los peces marinos de Cuba. Instituto de Oceanología Academia de Ciencias de Cuba and Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo. [back]
  2. Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez (1992). Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales ma [back]
  3. Smith, C.L. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p. [back]
  4. Mean = 534.790 meters (1,754.560 feet), Standard Deviation = 1,790.670 based on 81 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/2/2009