Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus)

General data

Main name: Blacktip grouper
Local names: Redbanded grouper, Blacktipped cod, Black-tipped rockcod, Footballer cod, Red-barred cod, Red-barred rockcod, Scarlet rock-cod, Weathered rock-cod
Climates: Tropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Africa, Asia, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean

Classification

Description

The blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus), also known as the redbanded grouper, blacktipped cod, black-tipped rockcod, footballer cod, red-barred cod, red-barred rockcod, scarlet rock-cod or weathered rock-cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. It is the type species of the genus Epinephelus. Description The blacktip grouper has a body which has a standard length which is around 2.8 to 3.3 times its depth. The area between the yes is flat but the dorsal profile of the head is convex. The rounded preopercle has a finely serrated rear margin with he lowest serrations slightly enlarged. The upper edge of the gill cover is straight. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 15-17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The membranes between the dorsal fin spines are deeply indented. The caudal fin is moderately rounded. There are 49-75 scales in the lateral line. The color is variable and ranges from pale greenish grey to pale reddish yellow to scarlet. They frequently have 5 or 6 faint dark bars, the final one being on the caudal peduncle. The scales on the upper body have a pale centre and dark rear margin, which creates am indistinct checked pattern. The outer membrane of the spiny part of the dorsal fin is black, or dark red in specimens from Western Australia and some from deep water. There is a pale yellow or white spot to the rear of the tip of each of the dorsal fin spines. This species attains a maximum total length of 40 centimetres (16 in), although a more common length is around 22 centimetres (8.7 in), and a weight of 2.0 kilograms (4.4 lb). Distribution The blacktip grouper has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. Its range extends from the Red Sea to the Eastern Cape in South Africa east as far as the Pitcairn Islands, north to southern Japan and Korea and south to New Caledonia and Australia. It is found in the Madagascar, Mascarenes, Comoros and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean as well. In Australia it occurs from the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia north around the tropical coastline and then as far south as Port Hacking in New South Wales. It can also be found on reefs in the Coral Sea, Elizabeth Reef, around Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea and Christmas Island.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
    
    Percidae - Perches->
    
    Pomatomidae - Bluefishes->
    
    Serranidae - Sea basses->
    
    Pomacentridae - Damsel and clownfishes->
    
    Latidae - Lates perches->
    
    Centropomidae - Snooks->
    
    Lutjanidae - Snappers->
    
    Haemulidae - Grunts->
    
    Artedidraconidae - Barbled plunderfishes->
    
    Embiotocidae - Surfperches->
    
    Glaucosomatidae - Pearl perches->
    
    Malacanthidae - Tilefishes->
    
    Polynemidae - Threadfin->
    
    Gerreidae - Mojarras->
    
    Priacanthidae - Bigeyes->
    
    Monodactylidae - Moonyfishes->
    
    Centrogenyidae - False scorpionfishes->
    
    Epinephelidae - Groupers->
    
    Epinephelus - Cloudy groupers->
    
    Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
    
    Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)
    
    Goldblotch grouper (Epinephelus costae)
    
    Red grouper (Epinephelus morio)
    
    Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
    
    Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)
    
    Maori rockcod (Epinephelus undulatostriatus)
    
    Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus)
    
    One-blotch grouper (Epinephelus melanostigma)
    
    Comet grouper (Epinephelus morrhua)
    
    Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus)
    
    Giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)
    
    Honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra)
    
    Potato grouper (Epinephelus tukula)
    
    Blue-and-yellow grouper (Epinephelus flavocaeruleus)
    
    White grouper (Epinephelus aeneus)
    
    Epaulet grouper (Epinephelus stoliczkae)
    
    Rock hind (Epinephelus adscensionis)
    
    Hong Kong grouper (Epinephelus akaara)
    
    White-edged grouper (Epinephelus albomarginatus)
    
    Banded grouper (Epinephelus amblycephalus)
    
    Spotted grouper (Epinephelus analogus)
    
    Catface grouper (Epinephelus andersoni)
    
    Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus)
    
    Yellow grouper (Epinephelus awoara)
    
    Frostback rockcod (Epinephelus bilobatus)
    
    Duskytail grouper (Epinephelus bleekeri)
    
    Palemargin grouper (Epinephelus bontoides)
    
    Longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus)
    
    Dogtooth grouper (Epinephelus caninus)
    
    Moustache grouper (Epinephelus chabaudi)
    
    Tonga grouper (Epinephelus chlorocephalus)
    
    Brownspotted grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma)
    
    Epinephelus clippertonensis (Epinephelus clippertonensis)
    
    Whitespotted grouper (Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus)
    
    Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)
    
    Coral grouper (Epinephelus corallicola)
    
    Brokenbar Grouper (Epinephelus craigi)
    
    Speckled blue grouper (Epinephelus cyanopodus)
    
    Saddletail grouper (Epinephelus daemelii)
    
    Spinycheek grouper (Epinephelus diacanthus)
    
    Speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi)
    
    Dotted grouper (Epinephelus epistictus)
    
    Cloudy grouper (Epinephelus erythrurus)
    
    Rock grouper (Epinephelus fasciatomaculosus)
    
    Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus)
    
    Brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)
    
    Darkmargin grouper (Epinephelus fuscomarginatus)
    
    Multispotted grouper (Epinephelus gabriellae)
    
    Epinephelus geoffroyi (Epinephelus geoffroyi)
    
    Dungat grouper (Epinephelus goreensis)
    
    Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus)
    
    Bridled grouper (Epinephelus heniochus)
    
    Starspotted grouper (Epinephelus hexagonatus)
    
    Blacksaddle grouper (Epinephelus howlandi)
    
    Somali grouper (Epinephelus indistinctus)
    
    Pacifc insular grouper; (Epinephelus insularis)
    
    Marquesan grouper (Epinephelus irroratus)
    
    Epinephelus japonicus (Epinephelus japonicus)
    
    Fivebar grouper (Epinephelus kupangensis)
    
    Starry grouper (Epinephelus labriformis)
    
    Striped grouper (Epinephelus latifasciatus)
    
    Mystery grouper (Epinephelus lebretonianus)
    
    Longspine grouper (Epinephelus longispinis)
    
    Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos)
    
    Highfin grouper (Epinephelus maculatus)
    
    Speckled grouper (Epinephelus magniscuttis)
    
    Netfin grouper (Epinephelus miliaris)
    
    White-blotched grouper (Epinephelus multinotatus)
    
    White-streaked grouper (Epinephelus ongus)
    
    Dot-dash grouper (Epinephelus poecilonotus)
    
    Smallscaled grouper (Epinephelus polylepis)
    
    Camouflage grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion)
    
    White-dotted grouper (Epinephelus polystigma)
    
    Striped-fin grouper (Epinephelus posteli)
    
    Longfin grouper (Epinephelus quoyanus)
    
    Oblique-banded grouper (Epinephelus radiatus)
    
    Red-tipped grouper (Epinephelus retouti)
    
    Halfmoon grouper (Epinephelus rivulatus)
    
    Sixbar grouper (Epinephelus sexfasciatus)
    
    Surge grouper (Epinephelus socialis)
    
    Foursaddle grouper (Epinephelus spilotoceps)
    
    Black-dotted grouper (Epinephelus stictus)
    
    Seamount grouper (Epinephelus suborbitalis)
    
    Summan grouper (Epinephelus summana)
    
    Greasy grouper (Epinephelus tauvina)
    
    Yellowspotted grouper (Epinephelus timorensis)
    
    Threespot grouper (Epinephelus trimaculatus)
    
    Plump grouper (Epinephelus trophis)
    
    Reticulate grouper (Epinephelus tuamotuensis)
    
    Wavy-lined grouper (Epinephelus undulosus)
    
    Mycteroperca - Groupers ->
    
    Cephalopholis - Scaleheaded groupers->
    
    Cromileptes - Humpback groupers->
    
    Hyporthodus - Hyporthodus->
    
    Alphestes - Alphestes->
    
    Variola - Variola->
    
    Anyperodon - Anyperodon->
    
    Gonioplectrus - Gonioplectrus->
    
    Plectropomus - Coral groupers->
    
    Gracila - Gracila->
    
    Aethaloperca - Aethaloperca->
    
    Chromileptes - Chromileptes->
    
    Dermatolepis - Dermatolepis->
    
    Saloptia - Saloptia->
    
    Triso - Triso->
    
    Cebidichthyidae - Cebidichthyidae->
    
    Anthiadidae - Anthiadidae->
    
    Ambassidae - Asiatic glassfishes->
    
    Bathydraconidae - Antarctic dragonfishes->
    
    Bembropidae - Duckbill flatheads->
    
    Bovichtidae - Thornfishes->
    
    Caesionidae - Fusiliers->
    
    Caesioscorpididae - Blowhole perches->
    
    Centracanthidae - Picarels->
    
    Cepolidae - Bandfishes->
    
    Channichthyidae - Crocodile icefishes->
    
    Congrogadidae - Eelblennies->
    
    Datnioididae - Freshwater tripletails->
    
    Dinopercidae - Cavebasses->
    
    Eleginopidae - Patagonian blennies->
    
    Grammatidae - Basslets->
    
    Grammistidae - Soapfishes->
    
    Hapalogenyidae - Barbeled grunters->
    
    Harpagiferidae - Spiny plunderfishes->
    
    Lactariidae - False trevallies->
    
    Latilidae - Deepwater tilefishes->
    
    Leptobramidae - Beachsalmon->
    
    Liopropomatidae - Painted basslets->
    
    Niphonidae - Ara groupers->
    
    Nototheniidae - Cod icefishes->
    
    Opistognathidae - Jawfishes->
    
    Oxylebiinae - Painted greenlings->
    
    Plesiopidae - Roundheads->
    
    Pseudaphritidae - Catadromous icefishes->
    
    Pseudochromidae - Dottybacks->
    
    Ptereleotridae - Dartfishes->
    
    Toxotidae - Archerfishes->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->