166: SERRANIDAE (ROCKCODS & SEABASSES)
Sea and Indian Ocean south to the Transkei and east to the
Pacific (Japan to Australia). An inshore species, often
found in estuaries, usually not on well-developed coral
reefs. These colour notes are based on the the excellent
paper by J. J. C. Morgans (1966), who spent 5 years collecting and studying rockcods off the coast of east Africa.
166.49 Epinephe/us me/anostigma
Schultz, 1953
PLATE 40
One-blotch rockcod
Eenkol-klipkabeljou
Epinephelus melanostigma Schultz, 1953: 348, Fig. 54 (Swains Id.,
Samoan group); Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 39*.
D XI,14-16; A III,8; P 17-19; LL56-68~LSS 83-98; GR (7-10)+(17-19).
Body depth 3.0-3.4, head 2.2-2.4 in SL.Maxilla reaches past eye; 3-5 rows
of teeth at side of lower jaw. Flank scales ctenoid, with auxiliary scales.
Length of 2nd A spine subequal to 3rd, 2.7-3.6 in head.
Head, body and fins with close-set brown spots, the pale
interspaces forming a network; only 1 dark blotch at base of
D; outer surface of distal half of P dusky, the entire inner
surface of fin with a distinct pale network as on body. Attains 30 cm. Western Indian Ocean south to Durban and
east to the western Central Pacific. A shallow-water reef
species.
166.49 Epinephe/us me/anostigma: 24.5 em (Natal).
166.50 Epinephe/us merra
Bloch,1793
PLATE 40
Honeycomb rockcod
Heuningkoek-klipkabeljou
Epinephelus merra Bloch, 1793: 17, PI. 329 (Japan); Smith, SFSA No.
439*; Morgans, 1982: 26*; Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 40*.
D XI,15-17; A III,8; P 16-18; LL 48-54; LSS 100-114; GR (6-8)+
(14-16). Body depth 2.9-3.2, head 2.3-2.6 in SL. Maxilla reaches past eye;
2-4 rows of teeth at side of lower jaw. Flank scales ctenoid, with auxiliary
scales. Length of 2nd A spine greater than 3rd or C peduncle depth.
Distinctive pale P with numerous, small, discrete, black
spots. Attains 30 cm. Very common shallow-water reef
species. Indo-West Pacific south to the Transkei, east to
French Polynesia and north to Japan.
528
166.50 Epinephe/us merra: ea. 17 em SL (So Mozambique).
166.51 Epinephe/us microdon
(Bleeker, 1856)
PLATE 40
Camouflage rockcod
Maskering-klipkabeljou
Serranus microdon Bleeker, 1856: 86 (Djakarta). Epinephelus microdon: Randall, 1964: 290*; Morgans, 1982: 23; Randall & Ben-Tuvia,
1983: 406*; Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 41 *.
D XI,14-15; A III,8; P 16-17; LL 47-53; LSS 95-113; GR (9-10)+(15-17).
Body depth 2.7-3.2, head 2.4-2.5 in SL. Dorsal head profile smoothly convex; interorbital area flat. Anterior nostrils subequal to posterior. Flank
scales ctenoid, with auxiliary scales. Maxilla reaches well past eye; 2 or 3
rows of teeth at side of lower jaw.
Head, body and fins brownish, covered with small dark
spots (smaller than pupil); head and body with more or less
distinct, dark blotches, the blotch on top of peduncle usually brownish black and most conspicuous. Attains 90 cm.
Red Sea and Indo-Pacific from northern Mozambique
(probably in southern Mozambique as well) to the western
Pacific (southern Japan to Queensland).
166.51 Epinephe/us microdon: 37 em (8assas da India, Mozambique Channel).
166.52 Epinephe/us miliaris
(Valenciennes, 1830)
PLATE 40
Netfin rockcod
Netvin-klipkabeljou
Serranus miliaris Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 520 (New
Guinea). Epinephelus fuscus Fourmanoir, 1961: 92 (Madagascar).
Epinephelus dictiophorus: Morgans, 1982: 24*. Epinephelus miliaris:
Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 42*.
Sea and Indian Ocean south to the Transkei and east to the
Pacific (Japan to Australia). An inshore species, often
found in estuaries, usually not on well-developed coral
reefs. These colour notes are based on the the excellent
paper by J. J. C. Morgans (1966), who spent 5 years collecting and studying rockcods off the coast of east Africa.
166.49 Epinephe/us me/anostigma
Schultz, 1953
PLATE 40
One-blotch rockcod
Eenkol-klipkabeljou
Epinephelus melanostigma Schultz, 1953: 348, Fig. 54 (Swains Id.,
Samoan group); Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 39*.
D XI,14-16; A III,8; P 17-19; LL56-68~LSS 83-98; GR (7-10)+(17-19).
Body depth 3.0-3.4, head 2.2-2.4 in SL.Maxilla reaches past eye; 3-5 rows
of teeth at side of lower jaw. Flank scales ctenoid, with auxiliary scales.
Length of 2nd A spine subequal to 3rd, 2.7-3.6 in head.
Head, body and fins with close-set brown spots, the pale
interspaces forming a network; only 1 dark blotch at base of
D; outer surface of distal half of P dusky, the entire inner
surface of fin with a distinct pale network as on body. Attains 30 cm. Western Indian Ocean south to Durban and
east to the western Central Pacific. A shallow-water reef
species.
166.49 Epinephe/us me/anostigma: 24.5 em (Natal).
166.50 Epinephe/us merra
Bloch,1793
PLATE 40
Honeycomb rockcod
Heuningkoek-klipkabeljou
Epinephelus merra Bloch, 1793: 17, PI. 329 (Japan); Smith, SFSA No.
439*; Morgans, 1982: 26*; Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 40*.
D XI,15-17; A III,8; P 16-18; LL 48-54; LSS 100-114; GR (6-8)+
(14-16). Body depth 2.9-3.2, head 2.3-2.6 in SL. Maxilla reaches past eye;
2-4 rows of teeth at side of lower jaw. Flank scales ctenoid, with auxiliary
scales. Length of 2nd A spine greater than 3rd or C peduncle depth.
Distinctive pale P with numerous, small, discrete, black
spots. Attains 30 cm. Very common shallow-water reef
species. Indo-West Pacific south to the Transkei, east to
French Polynesia and north to Japan.
528
166.50 Epinephe/us merra: ea. 17 em SL (So Mozambique).
166.51 Epinephe/us microdon
(Bleeker, 1856)
PLATE 40
Camouflage rockcod
Maskering-klipkabeljou
Serranus microdon Bleeker, 1856: 86 (Djakarta). Epinephelus microdon: Randall, 1964: 290*; Morgans, 1982: 23; Randall & Ben-Tuvia,
1983: 406*; Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 41 *.
D XI,14-15; A III,8; P 16-17; LL 47-53; LSS 95-113; GR (9-10)+(15-17).
Body depth 2.7-3.2, head 2.4-2.5 in SL. Dorsal head profile smoothly convex; interorbital area flat. Anterior nostrils subequal to posterior. Flank
scales ctenoid, with auxiliary scales. Maxilla reaches well past eye; 2 or 3
rows of teeth at side of lower jaw.
Head, body and fins brownish, covered with small dark
spots (smaller than pupil); head and body with more or less
distinct, dark blotches, the blotch on top of peduncle usually brownish black and most conspicuous. Attains 90 cm.
Red Sea and Indo-Pacific from northern Mozambique
(probably in southern Mozambique as well) to the western
Pacific (southern Japan to Queensland).
166.51 Epinephe/us microdon: 37 em (8assas da India, Mozambique Channel).
166.52 Epinephe/us miliaris
(Valenciennes, 1830)
PLATE 40
Netfin rockcod
Netvin-klipkabeljou
Serranus miliaris Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 520 (New
Guinea). Epinephelus fuscus Fourmanoir, 1961: 92 (Madagascar).
Epinephelus dictiophorus: Morgans, 1982: 24*. Epinephelus miliaris:
Heemstra & Randall, 1984: Epin 42*.