EPINEPHELUS POLYPHEKADION - (BLEEKER, 1849)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Loche crasseuse, Loche marbrée, Mérou camouflage, Merou marbré, Blue-tailed cod, Camouflage cod, Camouflage grouper, Camouflage rockcod, Marble grouper, Small-toothed rockcod, Snout-spot rock-cod, Mero disfrazado, Maskering-klipkabeljou, Getarnter Zackenbarsch, Madarahata, マダラハタ, 小牙石斑魚, 清水石斑魚,
Synonymes
Epinephelus goldmani (Bleeker, 1855)
Epinephelus microdon (Bleeker, 1856)
Epinephelus polyhekadion (Bleeker, 1849)
Serranus dispar (Playfair, 1867)
Serranus dispar var. b (Playfair, 1867)
Serranus goldmanni (Bleeker, 1855)
Serranus microdon (Bleeker, 1856)
Serranus polyphekadion (Bleeker, 1849)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8; Pectoral fin rays: 16-17, fin length: 1.7-2.1 in HL; Short pelvic fins: 1.9-2.4 in HL; Lateral-line scales: 47-52, in series: 95-110. Body depth: 2.7-3.1 in SL; Preopercle rounded, finely serrate; Upper edge of operculum distinctly convex; Rear nostril diameter about twice that of anterior nostril; Gill rakers of first gill arch: 8-10 + 15-1 = 24-27; Dorsal-fin spines third or fourth longest: 2.7-3.3 in HL and distinctly shorter than longest dorsal-fin ray; 2-3 rows of teeth on midlateral part of lower jaw; Front of jaws with inconspicuous fixed canines; Body scales ctenoid in broad zone on side from beneath pectoral fin to caudal peduncle, the rest cycloid; Caudal fin rounded. Max. length: 90.0 cm SL. Common length: 75.0 cm TL. Depth range: 1 - 46 m.
Color
Adults: head, body, and fins pale brown, covered with small dark brown spots; Head and body with irregular dark blotches (more distinct on live specimens) superimposed over the dark spots; Promiment black saddle blotch on caudal peduncle; Dark spots extend all over head, including lower jaw, lips, branchiostegal membranes, gular area, and inside of mouth; Numerous small white spots on fins (more distinct on live fish) and a few on head and body.
Juveniles: with a pair of blackish spots on each side of snout and a black spot at margin of second and third interspinous dorsal membranes.
Etymology
Epinephelus: from prefix Greek, epi = upon, on, over, near, at, before, after + from Greek, Nephos = cloud. Referring to film or membrane eye of most if not all groupers known to Bloch (although modern accounts mention only a transparent cornea protruding slightly through the orbit); Bloch also provided three vernacular names that describe the eyes: Blödaugen, German for “stupid eyes” or “bleary eyes,” depending on the translation, the English “Wall-eye,” and the French Tayes (per Bloch 1797), from taie, an opaque spot on the cornea.
polyphekadion: from Greek, polys = many, much, multi-, one or more + from Greek, phekadion = lens-shaped spots. Referring to numerous small, close-set dark-brown spots on head, back and sides.
Distribution
Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Madagascar east to Wake Atoll and Marquesas Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Queensland (Australia), Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Tonga and Rapa.
Biology
Often found in coral-rich areas of lagoon and outer reefs; In caves and large crevices to swim through. Most abundant around islands, particularly atolls. Usually in small schools but may be solitary. Feeds mainly on crustaceans (portunid crabs) and fishes, sometimes on cephalopods and gastropods. This species is important in artisanal fisheries, but occasionally implicated in cases of ciguatera (frequently ciguatoxic in the Marshall Is.).
Similar species
Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Epinephelus polyphekadion differs from Epinephelus fuscoguttatus in having more distinct oblique bands, a larger spot on the tail base, and fewer pectoral fin rays (16-17 vs 18-20).
Distribution
Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Madagascar east to Wake Atoll and Marquesas Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Queensland (Australia), Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Tonga and Rapa.
Biology
Often found in coral-rich areas of lagoon and outer reefs; In caves and large crevices to swim through. Most abundant around islands, particularly atolls. Usually in small schools but may be solitary. Feeds mainly on crustaceans (portunid crabs) and fishes, sometimes on cephalopods and gastropods. This species is important in artisanal fisheries, but occasionally implicated in cases of ciguatera (frequently ciguatoxic in the Marshall Is.).
Similar species
Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Epinephelus polyphekadion differs from Epinephelus fuscoguttatus in having more distinct oblique bands, a larger spot on the tail base, and fewer pectoral fin rays (16-17 vs 18-20).