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Epinephelus morio  (Valenciennes, 1828)

Red grouper
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Epinephelus morio   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Epinephelus morio (Red grouper)
Epinephelus morio
Picture by Corbetta, R.


Brazil country information

Common names: Garoupa, Garoupa de Sao Tomé, Garoupa de São Tomé
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: minor commercial | Ref: FAO, 1992
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Ranges from Bahia south to Santa Catarina, including Manuel Luiz Reefs and Abrolhos Reefs (Ref. 57756). Museum: off Cabo Frio and Santos, MZUSP 78154 (Ref. 47377). Also Ref. 3708, 5222, 13442, 89707.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Floeter, S.R., J.L. Gasparini, L.A. Rocha, C.E.L. Ferreira, C.A. Rangel and B.M. Feitoza, 2003
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) > Epinephelinae
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Main reference

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 125 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26340); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 23.0 kg (Ref. 9710); max. reported age: 25 years (Ref. 5222)

Length at first maturity
Lm 50.0, range 35 - 98 cm

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 330 m (Ref. 13442), usually 70 - 330 m (Ref. 13442)

Climate / Range

Subtropical, preferred 26°C (Ref. 107945); 35°N - 27°S, 98°W - 33°W (Ref. 5222)

Distribution

Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Bermuda; strays occur north to Massachusetts.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Color of head and body dark reddish brown, shading to pink or reddish below. Opercle with 3 flat spines, the middle one being the largest. Vertical fins angulate in larger fish. Pelvic fins shorter than pectorals and inserted slightly behind ventral and pectoral-fin base. Bases of soft dorsal and anal fins covered with scales and thick skin. No saddle on caudal peduncle. Interspinous membranes not incised (Ref. 26938); head length 2.3-2.5 times in SL; convex interorbital; subangular preopercle, serrae at angle slightly enlarged; straight upper edge of operculum; posterior and anterior nostrils subequal (Ref. 89707).

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Adults occur mainly over rocky and muddy bottoms. Uncommon around coral reefs. Usually rest on the bottom (Ref. 9710). Juveniles may be found in shallow water, but adults are usually taken from depths of 70-330 m (Ref. 13442). Feed on a wide variety of fishes and invertebrates. Are protogynous hermaphrodites (Ref. 55367). Most females transform to males between ages 7 to 14. Susceptible to red tide toxin (Ptychodiscus brevi) (Ref. 5222). Marketed fresh or frozen. The world record for hook and line, 39 lbs., from Cape Canaveral, Florida (Ref. 13442).

Threat to humans

Other (Ref. 5222)



Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

More information

Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
Ecotoxicology
Reproduction
Maturity
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Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development
Age/Size
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Length-weight
Length-length
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Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
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References
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Aquaculture profile
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Ciguatera
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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
3.5   ±0.5 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.1-0.18; tm=4-6; tmax=25; Fec=1.4 million)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
High vulnerability (64 of 100)
Price category (Ref. 80766)
Medium