| Grouper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gag grouper,Mycteroperca microlepis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Serranidae |
| Subfamily: | Epinephelinae Bleeker, 1874[1] |
| Tribes and genera | |
See text | |
Groupers arefish of any of a number ofgenera in the subfamilyEpinephelinae of thefamilySerranidae, in the orderPerciformes.
Not all serranids are called "groupers"; the family also includes thesea basses. The common name "grouper" is usually given to fish in one of two largegenera:Epinephelus andMycteroperca. In addition, the species classified in the small generaAnyperidon,Cromileptes,Dermatolepis,Graciela,Saloptia, andTriso are also called "groupers". Fish in the genusPlectropomus are referred to as "coral groupers". These genera are all classified in the subfamily Epiphelinae. However, some of the hamlets (genusAlphestes), the hinds (genusCephalopholis), thelyretails (genusVariola), and some other small genera (Gonioplectrus,Niphon,Paranthias) are also in this subfamily, and occasional species in other serranid genera have common names involving the word "grouper". Nonetheless, the word "grouper" on its own is usually taken as meaning the subfamily Epinephelinae.
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Groupers areteleosts, typically having a stout body and a large mouth. They are not built for long-distance, fast swimming. They can be quite large: in length, over a meter. The largest is theAtlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) which has been weighed at 399 kilograms (880 pounds) and a length of 2.43 m (7 ft11+1⁄2 in),[2] though in such a large group, species vary considerably. They swallow prey rather than biting pieces off of them. They do not have many teeth on the edges of their jaws, but they have heavy crushing tooth plates inside thepharynx. They habitually eatfish,octopuses, andcrustaceans. Some species prefer toambush their prey, while others are active predators. Reports of fatal attacks on humans by the largest species, such as thegiant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), are unconfirmed.[3]
Their mouths andgills form a powerful vacuum that pulls their prey in from a distance. They also use their mouths to dig into sand to form their shelters under big rocks, jetting it out through their gills.[citation needed]
Research indicatesroving coralgroupers (Plectropomus pessuliferus) sometimes cooperate withgiant morays in hunting.[4] Groupers are also one of the only animals that eat invasivered lionfish.[5]
The word "grouper" is from thePortuguese name,garoupa, which has been speculated to come from an indigenous South American language.[6][7]
In Australia, "groper" is used instead of "grouper" for several species, such as theQueensland grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus). In New Zealand, "groper" refers to a type of wreckfish,Polyprion oxygeneios, which goes by the namehapuka (from theMāori languagehāpuku).[8] In thePhilippines, groupers are generally known aslapu-lapu inLuzon, while in theVisayas andMindanao they are known aspugapo.[9][10] It is known askerapu in bothIndonesian andMalay. In theMiddle East, the fish is known as 'hammour', and is widely eaten, especially in thePersian Gulf region.[11][12] In Latin America, the fish is known as 'mero'.
The species in the tribes Grammistini and Diploprionini secrete a mucus-like toxin in their skin calledgrammistin, and when they are confined in a restricted space and subjected to stress, the mucus produces a foam that is toxic to nearby fish. These fishes are often called soapfishes. They have been classified either as their own families or within subfamilies,[13] although the fifth Edition of theFishes of the World classifies these two groups as tribes within the subfamily Epinephelinae.[14]
According to the 5th edition ofFishes of the World, the subfamily is divided up into 5tribes containing a total of 32 genera and 234 species.[14][15]
SubfamilyEpinephelinaeBleeker, 1874 (groupers)[1]
Groupers are mostly monandricprotogynous hermaphrodites, i.e., they mature only as females and can change sex after sexual maturity.[16][17] Some species of groupers grow about a kilogram per year and are generally adolescents until they reach three kilograms when they become female. The largest males often control harems containing three to 15 females.[16][18] Groupers often pair spawn, which enables large males to competitively exclude smaller males from reproducing.[16][19][20][21] As such, if a small female grouper were to change sex before it could control a harem as a male, its fitness would decrease.[19][20][21] If no male is available, the largest female that can increase fitness by changing sex will do so.[20]
However, some groupers aregonochoristic.[16] Gonochorism, or a reproductive strategy with two distinct sexes, has evolved independently in groupers at least five times.[16] The evolution of gonochorism is linked to group spawning high amounts of habitat cover.[16][20][22] Both group spawning and habitat cover increase the likelihood of a smaller male reproducing in the presence of large males. The fitness of male groupers in environments where competitive exclusion of smaller males is impossible is correlated with sperm production and thustesticle size.[18][20][23] Gonochoristic groupers have larger testes than protogynous groupers (10% of body mass compared to 1% of body mass), indicating the evolution of gonochorism increased male grouper fitness in environments where large males were unable to competitively exclude small males from reproducing.[18]
Like other fish, groupers harborparasites, includingdigeneans,[24]nematodes,cestodes,monogeneans,isopods, andcopepods. A study conducted inNew Caledonia has shown thatcoral reef-associated groupers have about ten species of parasites per fish species.[25] Species ofPseudorhabdosynochus, monogeneans of the familyDiplectanidae are typical of and especially numerous on groupers.[citation needed]
Many groupers are important food fish; some are nowfarmed. Unlike most other fish species, which are chilled or frozen, groupers are usually sold alive in markets.[26] Many species are populargame fish forsea-angling. Some species are small enough to be kept inaquaria, though even the small species are inclined to grow rapidly.[citation needed]
Groupers are commonly reported as a source ofciguatera fish poisoning.[27]DNA barcoding of grouper species might help control Ciguatera fish poisoning since fish are easily identified, even from meal remnants, with molecular tools.[28]
Malaysian newspaperThe Star reported a 180 kg (400 lb) grouper being caught off the waters nearPulau Sembilan in theStrait of Malacca in January 2008.[29] Shenzhen News in China reported that a 1.8 m (6 ft) grouper swallowed a 1.0 m (3 ft 3 in)whitetip reef shark at the Fuzhou Sea World aquarium.[30]
In September 2010, a Costa Rican newspaper reported a 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) grouper in Cieneguita,Limón. The weight of the fish was 250 kg (550 lb), and it was lured using one kilogram of bait.[31] In November 2013, a 310 kg (680 lb) grouper had been caught and sold to a hotel inDongyuan, China.[32]
In August 2014, offBonita Springs inFlorida (USA), a big grouper took in one gulp a 4-foot shark that an angler had caught.[33][34]
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