Comet grouper (Epinephelus morrhua)
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General data

Main name: Comet grouper
Local names: Comet cod, Dot-dash grouper
Climates: Tropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Africa, Asia, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean, East China Sea, South China Sea

Classification

Description

Description The comet grouper has a body with a standard length which is 2.8 to 3.1 times as long as it is deep. The dorsal profile of the head is moderately convex. The preopercle has enlarged serrations at its angle and it is notched just above the angle. The upper edge of the gill cover is straight. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 14-15 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7-8 soft rays. The caudal fin varies from convex to slightly rounded. The head and body tan and they are marked with dark brown bands. There is a forked band starting at the posterior margin of the eye, its upper branch reaching a dark brown saddle-like blotch on the nape just in before of origin of the dorsal fin while the lower branch runs to lowest of the spines on the gill cover before continuing along the flanks and then forking over the pectoral fin. The upper part of this band runs to a dark blotch at the base of the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. Another dark band runs from the upper margin of the gill cover to the base of spiny part of the dorsal fin. There is also a narrow band which runs from the lower margin of the orbit to the base of the pectoral fin and then continues as a broken line along the lower part of body curving upwards on to the upper part of caudal peduncle. There is another wide band from maxillary groove to rear end of interopercle. The areas between these bands are frequently marked with small brown spots. This species attains a maximum published total length of 90 centimetres (35 in), although they a more commonly found at lengths around 60 centimetres (24 in), and a maximum published weight of 6.7 kilograms (15 lb). Distribution The comet grouper has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution and is found from the Red Sea southwards along the African coast to South Africa and east through the Indian Ocean, including the Comoros, Madagascar, Aldabra, Mauritius, Chagos and Réunion, and on into the Pacific. In the Western Pacific Ocean it extends as far north as southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands and as far south as New South Wales in Australia. It recahes New Caledonia, Fiji, Rotuma and the Cook Islands. Habitat and biology The comet grouper is found near coral reefs on slopes off islands, of sea mounts or the continental shelf at depths from 80 to 370 m (260 to 1,210 ft) where it feeds on benthic fish and large invertebrates. Its biology is poorly understood. This species harbours several parasite species, including the diplectanid monogeneans Pseudorhabdosynochus morrhua and P. variabilis.

Catches

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->

Comet grouper (Epinephelus morrhua)Follow

General data

Classification

Description

Catches

Taxonomy of Fishes

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Comet grouper (Epinephelus morrhua)
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