423
12 Species Case Studies
and north to the Ryuku Islands of Japan (Heemstra and Randall 1993 ) . Adult
camoufl age grouper are commonly associated with coral reefs in clear water and
are solitary during non-reproductive periods. Detailed habitat use is unknown, but
fi sheries-dependent data suggest that adults prefer inshore reef areas, with the species apparently less common on outer reefs during non-reproductive periods
(Rhodes and Tupper 2007 ) . Like many other epinepheline groupers, the camoufl age grouper is a top carnivore that preys on portunid crabs, other crustaceans,
fi shes, and molluscs (Parrish 1987 ; Michel Kulbicki, Yves Letourner and Pierre
Labrosse unpublished data).
Camoufl age grouper is reported to reach 90 cm total length (TL) (Heemstra and
Randall 1986 ; Bouhlel 1988 ) . The maximum age for the species is 31 years in both
the Seychelles (Grandcourt 2005 ) and New Caledonia (Brett Taylor and KLR
unpublished data), while in Pohnpei Rhodes et al. ( 2011 ) found the maximum age
to be 22 years.
Several studies have investigated the early life-history of camoufl age grouper
under hatchery conditions (AQUACOP et al. 1989a ; Al-Thobaity and James 1996 ;
Tamaru et al. 1996 ; James et al. 1998 ) . Fertilised eggs ranged from 0.73 to 0.85 mm
in diameter and are transparent, positively buoyant (34–35 ppt) with a single oil
droplet (AQUACOP et al. 1989a ; Al-Thobaity and James 1996 ; Tamaru et al. 1996 ) .
Hatching occurred within 18–19 h at 28–30°C in Saudi Arabia and 20–21 h at 27°C
in Palau. Newly hatched larvae ranged from 1.55 to 1.71 mm TL (James et al. 1998 ) .
No published reports of wild larvae are available. From published photographs,
elongate fi n spines and head spines were apparent, typical of serranid larvae studied
to date (Al-Thobaity and James 1996 ) . Larval transformation (post-fl exion) occurred
at 40 days [average size = 34.4 ± 4.9 mm TL at 45 days] and after 15 months juveniles reportedly grew to 800 g (0.28 ± 0.11 g fi sh
−1 day
−1
) (James et al. 1998 ) . In
Palau, post-settlement camoufl age grouper were observed in low branching corals
with bushy macroalgae, massive coral heads and coral rubble. Post-settlement individuals appeared to become more cryptic as they grew and seemed to prefer more
turbid waters in deeper rubble areas and coral heads (Tupper 2007 ) . In Pohnpei,
post-settlement individuals (~ 10 cm TL) were taken by hook and line from rubble
patches in turbid waters near mangroves (KLR personal observation).
12.5.2 Reproduction and Aggregation
Sexual pattern in the camoufl age grouper was initially described as protogynous,
based on combined histochemical and histological techniques (AQUACOP et al.
1989b ; Debas 1989 ; Bruslé-Sicard et al. 1992 ) or as uncertain (Rhodes and Sadovy
2002a ) . More recently, Rhodes et al. ( 2011 ) used age and growth and histological
gonad assessments to confi rm functional gonochorism for the species, with the
potential for sexual transition.
Although there is often substantial size overlap between sexes, adult males are
sometimes larger than adult females (Rhodes and Sadovy 2002a ; Robinson et al.
12 Species Case Studies
and north to the Ryuku Islands of Japan (Heemstra and Randall 1993 ) . Adult
camoufl age grouper are commonly associated with coral reefs in clear water and
are solitary during non-reproductive periods. Detailed habitat use is unknown, but
fi sheries-dependent data suggest that adults prefer inshore reef areas, with the species apparently less common on outer reefs during non-reproductive periods
(Rhodes and Tupper 2007 ) . Like many other epinepheline groupers, the camoufl age grouper is a top carnivore that preys on portunid crabs, other crustaceans,
fi shes, and molluscs (Parrish 1987 ; Michel Kulbicki, Yves Letourner and Pierre
Labrosse unpublished data).
Camoufl age grouper is reported to reach 90 cm total length (TL) (Heemstra and
Randall 1986 ; Bouhlel 1988 ) . The maximum age for the species is 31 years in both
the Seychelles (Grandcourt 2005 ) and New Caledonia (Brett Taylor and KLR
unpublished data), while in Pohnpei Rhodes et al. ( 2011 ) found the maximum age
to be 22 years.
Several studies have investigated the early life-history of camoufl age grouper
under hatchery conditions (AQUACOP et al. 1989a ; Al-Thobaity and James 1996 ;
Tamaru et al. 1996 ; James et al. 1998 ) . Fertilised eggs ranged from 0.73 to 0.85 mm
in diameter and are transparent, positively buoyant (34–35 ppt) with a single oil
droplet (AQUACOP et al. 1989a ; Al-Thobaity and James 1996 ; Tamaru et al. 1996 ) .
Hatching occurred within 18–19 h at 28–30°C in Saudi Arabia and 20–21 h at 27°C
in Palau. Newly hatched larvae ranged from 1.55 to 1.71 mm TL (James et al. 1998 ) .
No published reports of wild larvae are available. From published photographs,
elongate fi n spines and head spines were apparent, typical of serranid larvae studied
to date (Al-Thobaity and James 1996 ) . Larval transformation (post-fl exion) occurred
at 40 days [average size = 34.4 ± 4.9 mm TL at 45 days] and after 15 months juveniles reportedly grew to 800 g (0.28 ± 0.11 g fi sh
−1 day
−1
) (James et al. 1998 ) . In
Palau, post-settlement camoufl age grouper were observed in low branching corals
with bushy macroalgae, massive coral heads and coral rubble. Post-settlement individuals appeared to become more cryptic as they grew and seemed to prefer more
turbid waters in deeper rubble areas and coral heads (Tupper 2007 ) . In Pohnpei,
post-settlement individuals (~ 10 cm TL) were taken by hook and line from rubble
patches in turbid waters near mangroves (KLR personal observation).
12.5.2 Reproduction and Aggregation
Sexual pattern in the camoufl age grouper was initially described as protogynous,
based on combined histochemical and histological techniques (AQUACOP et al.
1989b ; Debas 1989 ; Bruslé-Sicard et al. 1992 ) or as uncertain (Rhodes and Sadovy
2002a ) . More recently, Rhodes et al. ( 2011 ) used age and growth and histological
gonad assessments to confi rm functional gonochorism for the species, with the
potential for sexual transition.
Although there is often substantial size overlap between sexes, adult males are
sometimes larger than adult females (Rhodes and Sadovy 2002a ; Robinson et al.