| Mycteroperca bonaci | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Serranidae |
| Subfamily: | Epinephelinae |
| Genus: | Mycteroperca |
| Species: | M. bonaci |
| Binomial name | |
| Mycteroperca bonaci Poey, 1860 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Mycteroperca bonaci, theblack grouper,black rockfish ormarbled rockfish, is a species of marineray-finned fish, agrouper from thesubfamilyEpinephelinae which is part of thefamilySerranidae, which also includes theanthias and sea basses. Other fish are sometimes called theblack grouper including the similargag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis), themisty grouper (Hyporthodus mystacinus), and thewarsaw grouper (Hyporthodus nigritus). This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to Brazil.
Myctoperca bonaci has an oblong, laterally compressed body[3] with astandard length which is 3.3 to 3.5 times its depth. It has an evenly rounded preopercle with no incisions or lobes at its angle.[4] Thedorsal fin contains 11 spines and 15-17 soft rays while theanal fin has 3 spines and 11-13 soft rays,[2] both fins having rounded margins. Thecaudal fin is truncate to emarginate, althoughit may be convex if spread widely.[4] This species has an overall t's an olive grey colour and is marked with dark blotches and brassy hexagonal spots over the head and flanks.[5] Thepectoral fins are sooty brown, fading to orange towards the margin; the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin, as well as the forward edge of thepelvic fin have a dark margin.[4] This fish attains a maximumtotal length of 150 centimetres (59 in), although they are more common at around 70 centimetres (28 in) and a maximum published weight of 100 kilograms (220 lb).[2]
Mycteroperca bonaci is found in the western Atlantic where its range extends fromCape Canaveral inFlorida andBermuda south to the Bahamas, into theGulf of Mexico as far north asAlabama and from southernTexas along the coast of Mexico and Cuba. It occurs throughout theCaribbean Sea, along the coast of South America toSanta Catarina in Brazil. Its range extends to the Brazilian islands ofTrindade andFernando de Noronha. There is a gap in its distribution along the northern coast of South America betweenParamaribo in Suriname andMaranhão in Brazil. Occurrences in United States waters north toMassachusetts are juveniles and therefore consideredvagrants.[1]
Mycteroperca bonaci occurs over rocky bottoms and coral reefs at depths of 10 to 30 metres (33 to 98 ft), however in the eastern Gulf of Mexico it is normally encountered at depths of more than 30 metres (98 ft).[4] It is usually a solitary species,[2] the adults feeding mainly on fishes, such as grunts, snapper and herrings,[5] and the juveniles feed oncrustaceans.[2] Black groupers have been recorded forming seasonal feeding aggregations along the outercontinental shelf off Brazil, these coincide withspawning aggregations of some fish species the groupers prey on. They are monandricprotogynous hermaphrodites and form spawning aggregations which have been reported from in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Females attain sexual maturity at around 5years old and at a length of around 82.6 centimetres (32.5 in) and the change of sex to males occurs when they are around 15 years old and at a mean length of 121.4 centimetres (47.8 in).[1]
The recorded predators ofMycteroperca bonaci includesandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) andgreat hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) while they may also be prey forgreat barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) andmoray eels.[5] Black groupers are hosts to a variety of commonparasites which includeendoparasites affecting stomach and intestines andectoparasites which live on its skin.[6]
Mycteroperca bonaci was first formallydescribed asSerranus bonaci in 1860 by theCubanzoologistFelipe Poey (1799-1891) with Cuba being given as thetype locality.[7]
Mycteroperca bonaci is quite tasty and an important food fish. It is fished for sale and forsport.[1]
Mycteroperca bonaci is anIUCN Red Listnear threatened species, vulnerable to increases in exploitation because it is a relatively slow breeder.[1]
