''Epinephelus albomarginatus'', the white-edged grouper, white-edged rockcod or captain fine, is a species of marine

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...

, a

grouper Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes. Not all serranids are called "groupers"; the family also includes the sea basses. The common name "grouper" is ...

from the subfamily

Epinephelinae Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes. Not all serranids are called "groupers"; the family also includes the sea basses. The common name "grouper" is ...

which is part of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Serranidae The Serranidae are a large family of fishes belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species in 65 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers (subfamily Epinephelinae). Although many species are small, in some ca ...

, which also includes the

anthias Anthias are members of the family Serranidae and make up the subfamily Anthiinae. Anthias make up a sizeable portion of the population of pink, orange, and yellow reef fishes seen swarming in most coral reef photography and film. The name Anthi ...

and sea basses. It is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean and it is associated with

coral reef A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups. C ...

s. It is a target species for commercial and recreational fisheries.

Description

''Epinephelus albomarginatus'' has a body with a standard length which is 2.6 to 3.0 times as long as its depth. The preopercle has an angle and has 2-3 enlarged serrations at its angle. The

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through c ...

has 11 spines and 14 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 so rays. The membranes between the dorsal fin spines are obviously incised. The pelvic fins are as long as or slightly longer than the

pectoral fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...

s while the

caudal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...

is truncate, the corners of the caudal fin are rounded in adults. The jaws are armed with two rows of teeth, the outer row being enlarged. There are 56 to 66 scales in the lateral line. The basic colour of the head, body, dorsal, and caudal fins is pale brown, with many small darker brown spots. These are absent on the underside of the head and body. The juveniles have a prominent dark brown streak above their lips and many of the spots on the head, body and median fins merge to form double spots. The dorsal fin has a yellow or gold margin to the membranes in its spiny part. The soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin are dusky away from their bases and have a distinct white margin. The caudal fin has a white margin on its upper and lower distal edges also white-edged while the pectoral fins are yellowish or reddish orange. The maximum published

total length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology. Overall length * Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish ...

for this species is and the maximum published weight is .

Distribution

''Epinephelus albomarginatus'' is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the eastern coast of

Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number o ...

where it occurs from Zavala in southern Mozambique to East London in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Habitat and biology

''Epinephelus albomarginatus'' is found on rocky and coral reefs at depths between > This is a predatory species which preys largely on

spiny lobster Spiny lobsters, also known as langustas, langouste, or rock lobsters, are a family (Palinuridae) of about 60 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia. Spiny lobsters are also, especially in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, So ...

s, crab and octopuses, it will also eat fish and squid. These fish grow slowly and they are monandric

protogynous hermaphrodite Sequential hermaphroditism (called dichogamy in botany) is a type of hermaphroditism that occurs in many fish, gastropods, and plants. Sequential hermaphroditism occurs when the individual changes its sex at some point in its life. In particular, ...

s, which means that all of the males are derived from reproductively functional females. Fish sampled along the eastern coast of South Africa are normally sexually immature and this suggests that there may be a northward movement of fish to

spawn Spawn or spawning may refer to: * Spawn (biology), the eggs and sperm of aquatic animals Arts, entertainment, and media * Spawn (character), a fictional character in the comic series of the same name and in the associated franchise ** '' Spawn: ...

. Adults remain off northern Kwaulu Natal and southern Mozambique.

Taxonomy

''Epinephelus albomarginatus'' was first formally described in 1903 by the

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

ichthyologist George Albert Boulenger (1858-1937) with the type locality being given as the

Colony of Natal The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on 4 May 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Natalia Republic, Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three o ...

Utilisation

''Epinephelus albomarginatus'' is targeted by both recreational and commercial fisheries. In South Africa the traditional commercial fishery uses hook and lines from vessels, while in Mozambique line fishing is also used with both handlines and rod and line being used. The catch is sold locally and is also exported to Europe. The slow growth, late maturity and protogynous hermaphroditic life history of this species make it vulnerable to overfishing.

Conservation

''Epinephelus albomarginatus'' is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN because it has a small area of distribution and has been overfished, causing a substantial reduction in the population of reproductively active individuals. It does occur in some protected areas in both South Africa and Mozambique. In South Africa this species is subject to management by a total allowable effort limitation on commercial fisheries as well as by additional restrictions which are designed to protect overfished species. These include a bag limit of 5 fish per person per day and minimum allowable size of 40 cm for landing for recreational fishers. However, catches outside of the total allowable effort limitation and the increase in recreational angling are still causing concern. In Mozambique the species is subject to a management plan.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3239437 albomarginatus Fish described in 1903 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot