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Dans le cadre de l’action Amélioration des connaissances scientifiques - Volet Croissance du projet IPERDMX, une étude de la croissance d’espèces démersales pêchées autour de l’île de La Réunion (Océan Indien) a été réalisée. A partir d’écailles et d’otolithes prélevés chez 1907 individus appartenant à 18 espèces de poissons récifaux à La Réunion, différentes méthodes d’estimation d’âge individuel ont été utilisées pour estimer les paramètres de croissance. Exception faite de Pristipomoides filamentosus pour laquelle il n’a pas été possible de valider les lectures d’âge réalisées, des modèles ont pu être estimés pour les 12 autres espèces : Lutjanus kasmira, Lutjanus notatus, Epinephelus fasciatus, Parupeneus trifasciatus, Cephalopholis aurantia, Aphareus rutilans, Variola albimarginata, Lethrinus rubrioperculatus, Mulloidichthys pfluegeri, Aprion virescens, Caranx melampygus et Variola louti. Cette étude a également permis de consolider les connaissances acquises en 2015 sur la croissance de 4 autres espèces dites “profondes”, Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus, Etelis carbunculus, Eumegistus illustris et Etelis coruscans. Cette étude est la première à disposer de paramètres de croissance pour la majorité de ces espèces.

New records of four fish species from the coast of Sea of Oman are reported: Symphysanodon andersoni (4 specimens, 254–564 mm SL), Epinephelus fasciatus (3 specimens, 147–389 mm SL), Atrobucca nibe (3 specimens, 149–422 mm SL) and Minous usachevi (5 specimens, 87–164 mm SL). All specimens were obtained through surveys by a trawler operating in the area during the period November 2010 – May 2011. The present study is important in that it records for the first time the presence of a species of S. andersoni, E. fasciatus, and M. usachevi and add a new location for the species A. nibe. It also important as it reports on the presence of established populations of the four species examined based on the catch of young individuals.

A total of 385 Red Sea coral reef fish representing three species; Broom tail wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus), Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus) and Rabbit fish (Siganus sp.). were examined for the presence of nematode Huffmanela species. The eggs of Huffmanela species were isolated and identified only from the C. lunulatus. The total prevalence of Huffmanela sp. infestation were 69.5%. The highest prevalence was observed in winter and the lowest in spring and summer. The prevalence was increased in correlation with fish body weight. Fully developed eggs of Huffmanela species were dark brown embryonated, elongated, with slightly protruding plugs. A high density of Huffmanela sp. eggs with different developmental stages packed the epithelial layer of the gas bladder. The surrounding tissue of gas bladder was hemorrhagic and sometimes necrotic associated with chronic inflammatory cell infiltration. This is the first record of Huffmanela species infestation in Broom tail wrasse C. lunulatus, Red Sea coral reef fishes.

Age and Growth of the fish Epinephelus fasciatus (n=443) from Northern Red Sea were investigated, during the period from June 2006 to May 2007. The t-test analysis for the length-weight relationships showed a significant difference between b values, where male are positive allometric while female and sexes combined are isometric. The "Kc" and (Kn) factor was studied monthly and according to size classes, where females usually outnumbered males. The total average of Kc for sexes combined was 1.428 (SE.± 0.4134), this value is indication of a good condition. The value for both Kc and Kn increased in line with increased fish size until the size 31.4, and then decreased in value. On the other hand, both condition factors showed fluctuations among months, where the lowest value was recorded during August (within spawning season). The back calculation method was used to determine the age and growth for E. fasciatus. According to Bhattacharya method eight age group were verified growth parameters L∞=36.75 cm (TL), K= 0.35 year -1 and t0= -0.41121 were derived from Ford and Walford method. The highest range of growth recorded in the first year as it grows about 14.32 cm. Then the rate of growth either slowed down slightly or get closer to being steady.

The Pitcairn Islands, located in the central South Pacific, contain near-pristine marine ecosystems which support unique fish assemblages, together with both endemic and threatened species. Pitcairn itself is the only inhabited island in the group and, before this study, the environmental impact of local fisheries was unclear, with little data to inform conservation and management. In 2014–2015 coastal fish populations were assessed using a mixed methods approach: a newly introduced system of fishers’ catch monitoring and Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS). Thirty-nine BRUVS deployments recorded 88 species in total, with small-bodied herbivores (e.g., Kyphosus pacificus) and mesopredators (e.g., Xanthichthys mento) dominating a “bottom heavy” assemblage. Several large pelagic predators were recorded, but reef-associated predators were rare with only one shark observed. Pitcairn’s top predator assemblage was relatively impoverished compared to global “pristine” sites, including other islands within the Pitcairn group. Top predator scarcity may be explained by local artisanal fisheries, which have historically targeted sharks and other large reef carnivores, and these taxa may not have recovered despite subsequent declines in fishing pressure. The dominant small-bodied species may have proliferated as a result of diminished top predator populations. Subsequent to BRUVS sampling, a local fisheries officer post was created to collate catch data from coastal fishers. Regular returns were obtained from over half of the active fishers (representing approximately 80% of catches), with K. pacificus also dominating catches and the small grouper Epinephelus fasciatus frequently targeted. Thirty fish species were represented in the recorded catch over a 12 month period. Results were shared with the local community, providing a basis for the cooperative design of a Fisheries Management Plan. This plan ensured traditional fisheries could continue in a sustainable manner within Coastal Conservation Zones around each of the four Pitcairn Islands, established within the large, no-take Marine Protected Area designated in 2016, covering the entire Pitcairn Exclusive Economic Zone. Monitoring of Pitcairn’s artisanal fisheries should be continued beyond this one-off study in order to inform adjustment of the Fisheries Management Plan, as the ongoing island fishery may still have consequences for long-term sustainability, particularly for pelagic species caught in coastal waters which remain a significant data gap.

The objective of this research is to inventory groupers species from several Fish Landing Bases of Madura Island, East Java, Indonesia. The method of this research was a field survey that was conducted between May and October 2019. Groupers that have been found were identified based on FAO Species Catalogue (Heemstra & Randall, 1993). This research showed that there were 15 species of groupers from three genera of the family Serranidae was found, that was: (1) Plectropomus (Plectropomus maculatus), (2) Cephalopholis (Cephalopholis cyanostigma, C. boenak), and (3) Epinephelus (Epinephelus fasciatus, E. ongus, E. merra, E. coioides, E. bleekeri, E. heniochus, E. sexfasciatus, E. quoyanus, E. Erythrurus, E. analogus, E. areolatus and E. timorensis). Based on IUCN red list status, most of groupers species conservation status are categorized in least concern (LC), except E. bleekeri and E. quoyanus. E. bleekeri which was categorized into least concern in near threaten (NT), while E. quoyanus was categorized in threatened species (TS). In addition, this research also found a rare case of E. tumorensis presence that originally exists around Eastern Indian Ocean and Eastern Central Pacific. Because of their similar morphology and variable pattern, morphological identification of grouper usually leads to taxonomic confusion, hence for further research, confirmation of molecular identification is needed, especially to provide information to determine the conservation status of groupers.

Epinephelus fasciatus (Forssk��l 1775) ���Blacktip grouper Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Epinephelus fasciatus (Forssk��l 1775) by Bariche & Heemstra (2012). Distribution. Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, South Africa and Socotra east to Wake Atoll, Marshall Islands and Pitcairn Group, north to southern Japan and Ogasawara Islands, south to Western Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Tonga and Rapa. Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 21 November 2016). Capture and threats: Unknown. Occurrence: Very rare. Non-indigenous species, no conservation action needed., Published as part of Bariche, Michel & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, The marine ichthyofauna of Lebanon: an annotated checklist, history, biogeography, and conservation status, pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 4775 (1) on page 137, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4775.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3983887, {"references":["Bariche, M. & Heemstra, P. (2012) First record of the blacktip grouper Epinephelus fasciatus (Teleostei: Serranidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Biodiversity Records, 5 (e 1), 1 - 3. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 1755267211000509"]}

Recent examinations of anisakid nematodes (Anisakidae) from marine fishes off New Caledonia, collected in the years 2003-2008, revealed the presence of the following five new species of Raphidascaris Railliet et Henry, 1915, all belonging to the subgenus Ichthyascaris Wu, 1949: Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) spinicauda n. sp. from the redbelly yellowtail fusilier Caesio cuning (Caesionidae, Perciformes); Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) fasciati n. sp. from the blacktip grouper Epinephelus fasciatus (Serranidae, Perciformes); Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) nudicauda n. sp. from the brushtooth lizardfish Saurida undosquamis (Synodontidae, Aulopiformes); Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) euani n. sp. from the Japanese large-eye bream Gymnocranius euanus (Lethrinidae, Perciformes); and Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) elopsis n. sp. from the Hawaiian ladyfish Elops hawaiensis (Elopidae, Elopiformes). An additional two congeneric species, R. (I.) etelidis Moravec et Justine, 2012 and R. (I.) sillagoides (Bruce, 1990) were found in the deep-water red snapper Etelis carbunculus (new host record) and the deepwater longtail red snapper Etelis coruscans (both Lutjanidae, Perciformes), and the silver sillago Sillago sihama (Sillaginidae, Perciformes) (new host and geographical records), respectively. Two unidentified congeneric species, Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) sp. 1 from the trumpet emperor Lethrinus miniatus (Lethrinidae, Perciformes) and Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) sp. 2 from the white-spotted puffer Arothron hispidus (Tetraodontidae, Tetraodontiformes) were recorded. Moreover, two species of Hysterothylacium Ward et Magath, 1917, H. alatum Moravec et Justine, 2015 and H. epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1941), were found in the leopard coralgrouper Plectropomus leopardus (type host) and the highfin grouper Epinephelus maculatus (new host) (both Serranidae, Perciformes), respectively. This is the second finding of H. epinepheli since its original description in Japan 79 years ago. Most species are described based on light and electron microscopical studies.Nouvelles mentions de nématodes anisakidés de poissons marins de Nouvelle-Calédonie, avec description de cinq nouvelles espèces de Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) (Nematoda, Anisakidae).L’examen récent de nématodes Anisakidae de poissons marins de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, collectés dans les années 2003–2008, a révélé la présence des cinq nouvelles espèces de Raphidascaris Railliet et Henry, 1915, toutes appartenant au sous-genre Ichthyascaris Wu, 1949 : Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) spinicauda n. sp. chez le fusilier Caesio cuning (Caesionidae, Perciformes) ; Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) fasciati n. sp. chez la loche Epinephelus fasciatus (Serranidae, Perciformes) ; Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) nudicauda n. sp. chez le poisson-lézard Saurida undosquamis (Synodontidae, Aulopiformes) ; Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) euani n. sp. chez le bossu Gymnocranius euanus (Lethrinidae, Perciformes) ; et Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) elopsis n. sp. chez Elops hawaiensis (Elopidae, Elopiformes). Deux autres espèces congénériques, R. (I.) etelidis Moravec et Justine, 2012 et R. (I.) sillagoides (Bruce, 1990) ont été trouvées respectivement chez les vivaneaux de profondeur Etelis carbunculus (nouvel hôte) et Etelis coruscans (Lutjanidae, Perciformes) et chez Sillago sihama (Sillaginidae, Perciformes) (nouvel hôte et nouvelle mention géographique). Deux espèces congénériques non identifiées, Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) sp. 1 chez le bossu Lethrinus miniatus (Lethrinidae, Perciformes) et Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) sp. 2 chez Arothron hispidus (Tetraodontidae, Tetraodontiformes) sont signalées. De plus, deux espèces d’Hysterothylacium Ward et Magath, 1917, H. alatum Moravec et Justine, 2015 et H. epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1941), ont été trouvées chez la saumonée Plectropomus leopardus (hôte-type) et chez la loche uitoé Epinephelus maculatus (nouvel hôte) (Serranidae, Perciformes), respectivement. Il s’agit de la deuxième mention d’H. epinepheli depuis sa description originale au Japon il y a 79 ans. La plupart des espèces ont été décrites sur la base d’études au microscope optique et électronique.

Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål in Niebuhr 1775) —Blacktip grouper Status at New Ireland. New record, based on a specimen in a video of a specimen taken at Manne Island, Kavieng District, 3–25 m depth, St. KR42, in 2014 (identified by Barry C. Russell). Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 2.—General distribution: Red Sea, East and South Africa east to Wake Atoll, Marshall Islands and Pitcairn Group, north to southern Japan and Ogasawara Islands, south to Western Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, Tonga and Rapa. Found in coastal and offshore reefs, 3–160 m depth. Transitional water, marine., Published as part of Andréfouët, Serge, Chen, Wei-Jen, Kinch, Jeff, Mana, Ralph, Russell, Barry C., Tully, Dean & White, William T., 2019, Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 810 new records, pp. 1-360 in Zootaxa 4588 (1) on page 117, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4588.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2988163

A total number of 77 marine fishes of 3 species represented as 23 Abu Sabib (Cheilinus lunulatus‏), 24 kosher Abu Lolo (Epinephelus fasciatus) and 30 Sigan (Siganus luridus) were collected seasonally between May 2014 and the end of April 2015 from coral reef sites along the shore of the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) at Hurghada’s Red sea. They were investigated for detection of parasitic copepods. It was revealed that 31.16% of the examined marine fishes were infested. The detected species were belong to Genus Hatschekia Poche1902 from Cheilinus lunulatus‏with aprevalence78.26%, and from Siganus luridus with prevalence 20% while not detected in Epinephelus fasciatus. The total and seasonal prevalence of infestation in each fish species in relation to body weights and lengths were recorded. Besides, the histopathological alterations were studied and discussed.

Information on important and economic grouper fish (Serranidae family) in Peukan Bada waters, Province of Aceh is very limited. This objecives of this research were to determine spatial and temporal variabilities in species composition and community structure of grouper landed in Peukan Bada, Aceh Besar District. The research was conducted using survey method during February to June 2015 on three fish landing sites i.e., Ujong Pancu, Lamtengoh, and Lamteh. The groupers were caught by using handline. The landed fishes were therefore counted and identified up to species level. The data were also analyzed based on taxonomic information and individual number of each species, community structure using the diversity index (H’), eveness (E), and dominance (D). The results obtained 835 individual, 21 species of grouper belong to 4 genera (Aethaloperca, Cephalopholis, Epinephelus dan Variola). Based on species, Epinephelus fasciatus and Cephalopholis sonnerati were the most grouper fishes in the region. Based on community structure, diversity value (H’) in Lam-tengoh was higher than that in Ujong Pancu and Lamteh. Total grouper fish catches were not significantly different (P>0,05) among the three region. Meanwhile, total grouper fish cacthes were significantly different between seasons (pspecies variation during five months of observation was affected by the differences in catches area, the condition of aquatic enviroment, and oceanographic condition.Keywords: Groupers, Peukan Bada, species composition, community structure

Specimens of the philichthyid copepod Sarcotaces sp. were collected from gall-like cysts formed in the trunk and peduncle muscles under the skin of a blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775), from off Amami-oshima Island, the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan. This finding constitutes the first record of copepod of Sarcotaces from the Ryukyu Islands. As many as eight cysts, each containing a large adult female, a dwaf adult male, and many eggs and nauplii of Sarcotaces sp., were observed in this fish.

We studied oocyte steroidogenesis in blacktip grouper Epinephelus fasciatus ovarian follicles during vitellogenesis. Vitellogenic oocytes with average diameters of 0.45, 0.48 and 0.50 mm were incubated in vitro in the presence of -hydroxyprogesterone as a precursor. The steroid metabolites were analyzed using thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major metabolites in the vitellogenic oocytes were androstenedione (), testosterone (T), estradiol- (), and estrone (). The metabolites of androgen ( and T) were higher in the 0.50-mm oocytes than in the 0.45- and 0.48-mm oocytes, while the estrogen metabolites (E2 and E1) were lower in the 0.50-mm oocytes. These results suggest that 0.50-mm oocytes are fully vitellogenic following initiation of the maturation process.

To investigate the influence of the Kuroshio Current on the high diversity of marine fishes in Japanese waters, the intraspecific phylogeographic structure of Blacktip Grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus, was determined. The genetic analysis of E. fasciatus indicated three intraspecific mtDNA lineages representing different evolutionary histories: the first lineage differentiated in Japanese waters during a long period of fluctuations of the ancient Kuroshio Current, the second lineage, widely distributed in the tropical western Pacific, was transported to Japanese waters by the Kuroshio Current and the third lineage was distributed primarily around the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. Present-day sympatric distributions of the three lineages, characterized by different ratios of such individuals at each geographic site, indicated a complex genetic pattern that was classified into three demographic groups, the dispersal and gene flows of which were strongly influenced by the Kuroshio Current and factors such as countercurrent and island arc. Genetic breaks in E. fasciatus populations were congruent with other fish faunal boundaries in Japanese waters.

The lipid and fatty acid compositions of the muscle and liver of five Epinephelinae fishes (Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus retouti, Cephalopholis aurantia, Cephalopholis miniatus, and Variola louti) in the coral reef were investigated. The major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the Epinephelinae fish triacylglycerols was 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid; DHA), which was similar to high levels of DHA in the depot triacylglycerols of highly migratory fishes. In the phospholipids of all specimens, unusually high levels of 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid; ARA), 22:5n-6 (docosapentaenoic acid; n-6 DPA), and 20:5n-3 (icosapentaenoic acid; EPA) were found with markedly high levels of DHA. Noticeable levels of n-6 long-chain PUFA, such as ARA and n-6 DPA, were found in the muscle and liver polar lipids and suggested a typical profile of the fatty acid composition of coral demersal fishes. The five Epinephelinae fishes were healthful marine foods containing markedly high levels of DHA with noticeable levels of various n-3 and n-6 PUFA.

Groupers are important commercial fish in many parts of the world. Accurate identification is critical for effective conservation assessment and fisheries management. Genetic barcodes provide a simple and reproducible method for the identification of species even in the absence of taxonomic expertise. The generation of reference barcodes from properly identified specimens is an important first step in this direction. Here, 36 species belonging to the subfamily Epinephelinae (Family: Serranidae) were collected from landings on the west coast of India and Port Blair, Andaman, and partial nucleotide sequence data of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was generated. Barcodes for 13 species were developed from Indian waters for the first time. Analysis using the COI gene produced phylogenetic trees in concurrence with other multi-gene studies. Epinephelus fasciatus and E. areolatus were found to be a species complex, as hypothesized in other studies. The DNA barcodes developed in the study can be used for identifying species within Epinehelinae, where taxonomic ambiguity still exists.

The demersal species Lethrinus borbonicus, Lethrinus mahsena, Lethrinus microdon, Lethrinus nebulosus, Lutjanus bohar, Lutjanus gibbus, Lutjanus kasmira, Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus stoliczkae, Carangoides gymnostethus and Euthynnus affinis are important coastal fishes species of the northern coast of Socotra (Yemen), exploited by local fishery. The biology and feeding ecology of these species are poorly known in the area. A total of 1239 specimens were sampled from the main fishing landing site of the island (Hadibo). Total length and weight were measured, stomach contents were analyzed, diet overlap, Fulton's Condition index, and trophic levels were estimated. C. gymnostethus, L. microdon and L. kasmira occupied the highest position (T=4.50), L. nebulosus occupied the lower one (TL=3.41). The role of the increasing abundance of small pelagic fish in the diet of many species after the upwelling event is evident, but also different feeding strategies are reported, according to fish ecology.

Marine protected areas can be designated for a number of reasons, but exactly how they provide benefits is only recently being understood. We assessed the effect of protection on the size and distribution of six common species of grouper in a coral reef ecosystem. Data on live coral cover, coral genus diversity, and coral colony structure type were also compared to give an indication of reef quality between sites. A significant interaction was found forAethaloperca rogaaandCephalopholis nigripinnis, indicating that protected areas held greater numbers of smaller and median sized fish of these species than unprotected areas. Similar but nonsignificant trends were found forCephalopholis miniataandCephalopholis argus. ForAnyperodon leucogrammicus, MPAs held significantly more fish than unprotected sites, but as the increase was equal between size categories there was no interaction. The last speciesEpinephelus fasciatus,which was one of the smallest species, had no significant interaction, similar mean counts between protected and unprotected areas, and no obvious strong favouritism for particular sites with values indicating better reef quality, indicating intraspecies competition. The results of this study indicate that while the MPAs in this study are likely too small to benefit large groupers, the improvements to habitat quality have indirect benefits to groupers, especially at their earlier life stages.

A new genus and species of copepod, Mihbaicola sakamakii n. g., n. sp., belonging to the siphonostomatoid family Hatschekiidae, is described based on the females collected from inside the tissue of the branchiostegal membrane in three species of the groupers, Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål) (type-host), E. merra Bloch and Cephalopholis leopardus (Lacépède), collected off Okinawa-jima Island and Iriomote-jima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, North Pacific Ocean. The new genus can be distinguished from other hatschekiid genera by a combination of the following characters in the female: the head is composed of the cephalosome and the pedigerous somite; the cephalothorax is expanded into a pair of posteroventral lobes carrying leg 1; legs 1 and 2 are biramous and composed of the protopod and both rami are 2-segmented; leg 3 is absent; and leg 4 is represented by a rounded lobe with a chitinous pointed apical process.

Ultrastructural characteristics of blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus spermatozoa were investigated using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The spermatozoa of E. fasciatus consisted of a spherical head part, a midpiece with cytoplasmic canal entrance and a flagellum with lateral fins. Internal ultrastructurally, the nucleus contains high electron dense chromatin having granular particles and has no acrosome. The centriolar complex lies outside of the nuclear fossa and it is connected by the osmophilic filaments. Also the osmophilic filaments connect between the centriolar complex and the nuclear membrane. The midpiece contains eight to nine spherical mitochondria, cytoplasmic canal and necklaces. The flagellum has a typical 9+2 axonemal structure. The lateral fins contain vesicles and a typical 9+2 axonemal structure. Consequently this study contributes to comparative grouper spermatology and provide useful systematic taxonomic characters.

We cloned and sequenced the cDNA encoding the and subunits from the pituitary of the blacktip grouper Epinephelus fasciatus, which regulate vitellogenesis and maturation in vertebrates, to achieve stable and healthy gametes. The full-length cDNAs of and were 571 bp and 617 bp, encoding 120 amino acid (aa) and 147 aa proteins, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of and were highly homologous (68-97%) to those of other Perciformes; E. bruneus, Dicentrarchus labrax, Thunnus thynnus, and Pseudolabrus sieboldi. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the deduced and amino acid sequences were categorized as a distinct subunit in the family, and are closely related to the teleostei and , respectively. and mRNA exhibited high abundance in the pituitary gland and low in other brain areas, but were not present in peripheral tissues, as determined by RT-PCR.

Coral reef ecosystem is known as an important place to live various types of fish, where coral conditions will affect the diversity and abundance of the fish. In healthy coral reef ecosystems generally can be found many types of fish with high density. This research aims to investigate the diversity and abundance of coral fishes at Saebus Island, East Java. The observation conducted at 4 stations, according to cardinal point by UVS (underwater visual census) methods with belt transect with the visibility of 2,5 m horizontally, and 5 m vertically. The length of transect was 100 m parallel with coastline, with the area of observation is 500 m2. The censuses were conducted at 2 different depths (3 and 10 m). This study found 70 kinds of coral fish originated form 20 family at all stations. These fishes were from 3 different fish categories i.e. 7 target fishes, 13 indicator fishes, and 50 major fishes. Three different fishes that dominated target fish, indicator fish and major fish were Epinephelus fasciatus, Chaetodon baronessa and Aulostomus chinensis, respectively. There was similar value of fish diversity index at two different depths which were 3.635 and 3,623. While uniformity index at the depth of 3m was 0.153 and at 10m was 0.217, and domination index at the depth of 3m was 0.11 and at 10m was 0.167. These values suggest that diversity of coral fish at Saebus island can be categorized as high diversity.

The morphological development of larval and juvenile blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus, was examined using a hatchery-reared series. By about 5 mm body length (BL), the larvae developed characteristic pigmentation patterns of groupers, such as melanophores on the dorsal part of the gut, on the tips of the second-dorsal and pelvic fin spines, and on the midpoint of the tail to form a cluster. In addition, characteristic spines of groupers, such as spinelets on the second-dorsal and pelvic fin spines, and the preopercular angle spine developed by about 6 mm BL. The notochord end was in the process of flexion in larvae of 6–7 mm BL, by when major melanophores, spines, and jaw teeth started to appear. After the fin ray counts attained the adult complement at about 14 mm BL, somewhat densely pigmented bands started to appear on the body. The fish had the five distinct transverse bands and attained adult-like attire at about 40 mm BL when the major head spines disappeared and body parts in relation to BL became stable.

Ceratomyxa spp. from the gall-bladder of five members of the family Serranidae were examined for their taxonomic identity. This paper describes seven new ceratomyxid species, i.e. C. brayi n. sp. and C. whippsi n. sp from Cephalopholis boenak (Bloch); C. cutmorei n. sp. from Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål); C. gleesoni n. sp. from Plectropomus leopardus (Lacépède); C. hooperi n. sp. and C. nolani n. sp. from E. quoyanus (Valenciennes); and C. yokoyamai n. sp. from E. maculatus (Bloch). Each species is characterised morphologically and small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences. All seven new species have so far been found in only a single host species.

Two new, one known and three unidentified species of the nematode family Camallanidae are reported and described from the intestines of marine perciform fishes off the southwestern coast of New Caledonia, South Pacific: Camallanus carangis Olsen, 1952 from the forked-tailed threadfin bream Nemipterus furcosus (Nemipteridae), the yellowstriped goatfish Upeneus vittatus and the whitesaddle goatfish Parupeneus ciliatus (both Mullidae) (new host records); Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) variolae sp. n. from the white-edged lyretail Variola albimarginata (type host) and the blacktip grouper Epinephelus fasciatus (both Serranidae); Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) longus sp. n. from the twotone tang Zebrasoma scopas (Acanthuridae); Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 1 (female tail with 2 terminal spikes on a digit-like projection) from the speckled sand-perch Parapercis hexophtalma (Pinguipedidae); Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 2 (female tail with 1 spike on a digit-like projection) from the drab emperor Lethrinus ravus (Lethrinidae) and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 3 (female tail with a smooth digit-like protrusion) from the two-lined monocle bream Scolopsis bilineata (Nemipteridae). Camallanus paracarangis Velasquez, 1980 is synonymized with C. carangis. Several additional species of Camallanus from marine fish of the Indo-Pacific region may be synonymous with C. carangis as it has a poorly sclerotized left spicule and 3 small caudal projections on the tail of young (i.e., non-gravid) females. The fourth-stage larva of C. carangis is described for the first time. P. (S.) variolae differs from most similar species of this region mainly in the position (i.e., at level or posterior to the nerve ring) and shape of deirids. P. (S.) longus differs from the similar P. (S.) chaimha mainly in a different arrangement of postanal papillae, shape of the female tail, much longer right spicule (429 microm) and longer body of gravid females (38-55 mm). All Camallanus and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) spp. reported here represent the first records of camallanids from marine fishes in New Caledonian waters.

We investigated the use of otolith chemistry to identify the stock structure of three epinepheline serranid coral reef fishes: Plectropomus leopardus, Cephalopholis cyanostigma and Epinephelus fasciatus. Chemical signatures of otoliths collected from the three species were compared on a broad regional scale and, for P. leopardus, also on a finer reef scale. The temporal stability in these signals was also examined by comparing two cohorts of P. leopardus, and C. cyanostigma and E. fasciatus from the same cohorts that were collected 2 years before and 2 years after a significant weather disturbance caused by a large tropical cyclone (Cyclone Justin) in March 1997. Results showed differences in otolith chemistry at various spatial scales, as well as between years and individuals collected before and after the cyclone. The results highlight the need to incorporate data from several years in studies using these techniques to discriminate temporary and possibly misleading signals from those that indicate persistent spatial structure in stocks. The difficulties in identifying stocks and stock boundaries in species with spatially complex population structures are discussed, as is the need for complementary analyses of life history characteristics to determine biologically and logistically appropriate management units.

Allobenedenia Yamaguti, 1963 is revised to include capsalid species with five radial septa in the haptor. Megalocotyloides Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1967 and Allosprostonia Lawler & Hargis, 1968 are considered junior synonyms of Allobenedenia. Eight described species comprise the genus: A. convoluta (Yamaguti, 1937) Yamaguti, 1963 (type-species), A. epinepheli (Bychowsky & Nagibina, 1967) n. comb., A. patagonica (Evdokimova, 1969) n. comb., A. pedunculata Raju & Rao, 1980, A. pseudomarginata (Bravo-Hollis, 1958) n. comb., A. sebastodi (Egorova, 1994) n. comb., A. yamagutii (Egorova, 1994) n. comb. and A. zhangi n. sp. A. ishikawae (Goto, 1894) Yamaguti, 1963 is considered a species inquirenda; Megalocotyloides hongkongensis Wu, Lu & Woo, 2002 is placed in synonymy with A. yamagutii; M. grandiloba (Paperna & Kohn, 1964) Egorova & Aleshkina, 1984 is provisionally returned to Megalocotyle as M. grandiloba Paperna & Kohn, 1964; and specimens identified as M. grandiloba from Serranus cabrilla (Serranidae) by Buhrnheim et al. (1973) are considered an undescribed species of Allobenedenia. A. zhangi n. sp. is described from the external surface of Epinephelus fasciatus (Serranidae) of Allobenedenia. A. zhangi n. sp. is described from the external surface of Epinephelus fasciatus (Serranidae) in the South China Sea and is characterised by having an elongtate proximally uncoiled male copulatory organ extending to near the level of the anterior margin of the ovary, a large prostatic reservoir apparently external to the male copulatory canal, and a submedial protuberance on the dorsal surface of the accessory sclerite of the haptor.

Gram-positive chain-forming bacteria were isolated from the spleen, kidney, and blood of dead wild Red Sea fish (broomtail wrasse Cheilinus lunulatus, grouper Epinephelus fasciatus, goatfish Parupeneus sp.) that washed ashore on the Eilat Nature Reserve beach (Israel, Red Sea). Gram-positive bacteria were similarly isolated from rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus, white grouper Epinephelus aeneus, and grey mullet Mugil cephalus cultured in the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Center for Mariculture, Eilat. On the basis of their phenotypical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene partial sequence analyses, the bacteria were identified as Streptococcus parauberis (from C. lunulatus), Lactococcus lactis (from E. aeneus and M. cephalus), Streptococcus iniae (from E. fasciatus, Parupeneus sp. and S. rivulatus), Streptococcus agalactiae (from M. cephalus), and Carnobacterium sp. (from E. aeneus). These lactic acid bacteria, isolated between 2009 and 2011, are added to the growing list of bacterial pathogens detected in wild or farmed marine fish in the Gulf of Eilat in recent years, suggesting a rising trend in areas subjected to intense anthropogenic impact (including aquaculture), where newly emerging pathogens and previously unexposed host populations are brought together. The IJA appears exclusively as a peer-reviewed on-line open-access journal at http://www.siamb.org.il. To read papers free of charge, please register online at registration form. Sale of IJA papers is strictly forbidden.

Immature bivesiculid trematodes collected from the intestine of Thalassoma lunare (Labridae) are shown to be morphologically consistent with adults of Bivesicula claviformis from Epinephelus fasciatus (Serranidae). In addition, the immature bivesiculids have the same sequence for the second internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA. Comparison with three other species of Bivesiculidae showed differences of between 23% and 30%. These results show that bivesiculids may have three-host life-cycles in addition to the two-host life-cycles that have been demonstrated previously. The three-host life-cycle enables bivesiculids to infect large carnivorous fishes. (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Four species of the genus Lepidapedoides Yamaguti, 1970 are described from Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. They are: Lepidapedoides angustus n. sp. in Epinephelus fasciatus (type-host), E. cyanopodus, E. merra, E. quoyanus, E. ongus, Cephalopholis miniata and Diploprion bifasciatum; L. dollfusi (Durio & Manter, 1968) n. comb. [originally Neolepidapedon] in Epinephelus cyanopodus; L. ovale (Yamaguti, 1942) n. comb. [originally Pseudocreadium] in Caesio cuning and Pterocaesio marri; and L. parvulus n. sp. in Pterocaesio marri (type-host) and Caesio cuning. Host and distribution information on the species of the genus are tabulated according to morphological group. Mycterobonacinus Nasir & Gomez, 1977 is considered synonymous with Lepidapedoides, and M. magnifus is considered a synonym of L. nicolli.

The number of alien species in the Mediterranean Sea is steadily increasing and it seems that the pace has been accelerating since the turn of the century (Galil et al. 2014). In 2015 alone five additional fish species have been reported, Epinephelus geoffroyi (Klunzinger, 1870) (Golani et al. 2015); Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) (Fricke et al. 2015); Sardinella gibbosa (Bleeker, 1849) (Stern et al. 2015); Mobula japanica (Muller & Henle, 1841) (Capape et al. 2015); and Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus (Ruppell, 1830) (Rothman & Goren 2015). Among the ca. 100 alien fish species reported from the Mediterranean to date (Galil & Goren 2014), five Indo-Pacific species belong to the genus Epinephelus Bloch, 1793: Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822), Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskal, 1775), Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch and Schneider, 1804) Epinephelus merra Bloch, 1793 (Golani et al. 2013a) and Epinephelus geoffroyi (Klunzinger, 1870) (Golani et al. 2015). Additional alien Epinephelus species reported from the Mediterranean are excluded for various reasons (Golani et al. 2013b). Here we report the finding of a sixth Indo-Pacific species of this genus along the Mediterranean coast of Israel.

The characteristics and distributions of cholecystokinin (CCK)-producing cells and mucus-secreting goblet cells were investigated in the digestive tract of the blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus). CCK-producing cells were scattered throughout the digestive tract. The highest frequency of CCK-producing cells was observed in the anterior intestine portion and pyloric ceca, with a very small number of cells distributed as far as the rectum. Mucus-secreting goblet cells were found to differ remarkably in their regional distributions and relative frequencies. High frequencies of mucus-secreting goblet cells were found in the digestive tract, mainly in the anterior intestine portion and pyloric ceca, but not the esophagus; the frequency decreased slightly toward the rectum. Our result suggests that food digested by gastric acid in the stomach moves on the anterior (including the pyloric ceca) and mid intestine portion, thereby ensuring effective stimulation of the CCK-producing cells. In addition, the distribution pattern of the CCK-producing cells closely resembled that of mucus-secreting goblet cells. In E. fasciatus, CCK-producing cells and mucus-secreting goblet cells seem to be well adapted to promoting optimal control of the digestive process.

A specimen of the Indo-Pacific blacktip grouper was collected at a depth of 20 m from off the coast of Lebanon. This constitutes the first record of the species in the Mediterranean and adds to the number of exotic serranids in the Mediterranean Sea.

Samples of Mugil cephalus, Liza ramada, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Epinephelus alexandrinus, Epinephelus areolatus, Epinephelus fasciatus, Epinephelus chlorostigma, Cephalopholis argus and Cephalopholis sonnerati were collected from the Mediterranean and Red Seas and their muscle and bone analyzed by AAS for some trace metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb). the results showed that these metals accumulate in the bones to a greater extent than in the muscle. the highest accumulated element is cobalt (4.7-20.8 times), while the lowest is lead (1.1-2.5 times). the accumulation is more pronounced in Red Sea species than in Mediterranean species. the elevated levels of lead in Mugil cephalus (2.6-3.0 mg kg−1) and Epinephelus alexandrinus (3.0-3.9 mg kg−1) were attributed to the intake in food in the polluted environment of Alexandria coastal water. the relationship between body size and concentration of trace metals using a standard linear regression technique gives a significant positiv...

A description is given of three contrasting adhesive attitudes exhibited by three species of capsalid monogeneans from the gills of three different species of teleost fish from Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. The proximal end of the primary lamella of the coral trout, Plectropomus maculatus has a wide inner border, free from secondary lamellae, on each flat face. The haptor of Trochopus plectropomi is small enough to attach to this flat surface without folding. Benedenia sp. 1 attaches itself to the gills of stripey, Lutjanus carponatatus, by folding the haptor longitudinally around the inner edge of the primary lamella. Most specimens of T. plectropomi and all specimens of Benedenia sp. 1 were orientated with the anterior end projecting towards the tip of the primary lamella. Benedenia sp. 2 generally prefers relatively flat surfaces in the gill chamber but is more versatile in its choice of attachment sites on its host, the blacktip cod, Epinephelus fasciatus; two specimens were attached to the gill arch, one to a gill raker and one to the dorsal pharyngeal tooth pad.

Examinations of marine fishes off New Caledonia, South Pacific, carried out in 2003–2006, yielded some nematodes of the genus Philometra Costa, 1845, including the following three new species: P. cyanopodi sp. nov. (males and subgravid females) and P. lethrini sp. nov. (males and subgravid females) from the gonads of Epinephelus cyanopodus (Richardson) (Serranidae) and Lethrinus genivittatus Valenciennes (Lethrinidae), respectively, and P. lagocephali sp. nov. (gravid female) from the abdominal cavity of Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin) (Tetraodontidae). Another congeneric species P. fasciati sp. nov. from the gonads of Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål) (Serranidae), originally reported as P. lateolabracis (Yamaguti, 1935), has been established with reference to the description of males and a mature female published by Moravec and Justine (2005). The new species are characterized mainly by the length of spicules and the length and structure of the gubernaculum, structure of the male caudal end (except for P. lagocephali), body size, location in the host and by the types of hosts. In addition, Philometra sp. (subgravid females) from the gonads of Lutjanus vitta (Quoy et Gaimard) (Lutjanidae) and Philometra cf. ocularis Moravec et al., 2002 (gravid female) from the oculo-orbit of Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål) were found, the latter representing a new host record.

Species of Pseudorhabdosynochus were studied from fresh specimens collected from Epinephelus fasciatus and E. merra off New Caledonia, South Pacific, and specimens deposited in Museums. Experiments on two species demonstrated that the sclerotised hollow organs, such as the quadriloculate male copulatory organ and the vagina, may show differences in measurements of up to 50% when flattened. P. caledonicus n. sp. is described from E. fasciatus in New Caledonia, on which it is relatively rare; it is distinguished on the basis of the quadriloculate organ, which has a very thin anterior wall, the sclerotised parts of the vagina in form of a straight tube with a star-shaped lateral structure, and the squamodiscs composed of 11 open rows of rodlets. P. cupatus (Young, 1969) is redescribed from abundant material from E. fasciatus off New Caledonia (new geographical record) and compared with paratype specimens from Australia (from E. fasciatus and E. merra) and specimens from E. fasciatus in the Red Sea (both herein redescribed and figured); a specimen was also found on a slide from E. merra off Vanuatu. P. melanesiensis (Laird, 1958) is redescribed from material from E. merra off New Caledonia (new geographical record) and compared with type-specimens (herein redescribed and figured) from the same host off Vanuatu. The structure of the sclerotised vagina in P. cupatus and P. melanesiensis is very similar, with a thin-walled tube and a heavily sclerotised structure with three loculi. P. vagampullum (Young, 1969) is redescribed from the paratypes from E. merra from Australia, but was not found in New Caledonia; specimens included among its paratypes (from E. merra in Australia), but different, are herein attributed to Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 3. P. lantauensis (Beverley-Burton and Suriano, 1981) is redescribed from the paratype specimens from E. longispinis off Hong-Kong. A specimen found among the paratypes of P. cupatus belongs to a different species, herein designated as Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 1. Specimens from E. longispinis off Hong-Kong, previously attributed to P. cupatus, are attributed to another species, Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 2. The three species P. cupatus, Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 1 and Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. 2 have in common a 'lamellosquamodisc' composed of central telescopic lamellae and peripheral rows of rodlets; they can be distinguished by the shape of the sclerotised vagina and measurements of the haptoral hard-parts. Specimens from E. longispinis off Hong-Kong, previously attributed to P. vagampullum, probably belong to a different species. Consequently, after these modified determinations, P. cupatus parasitises only E. fasciatus and E. merra, and P. melanesiensis and P. vagampullum parasitise only E. merra. With their wide geographical distribution and different species of Pseudorhabdosynochus in different localities, E. fasciatus and E. merra appear to represent excellent models for investigating monogenean biogeography in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

International audience; A recent examination of newly obtained specimens of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) parasitising carangid and serranid fishes off New Caledonia, South Pacific, revealed the presence of several nematodes of the genus Philometra Costa, 1845, including three new species: P. austropacifica n. sp. (males and females) from the ovary of Alepes vari (Carangidae), P. piscaria n. sp. (males) from the ovary of Epinephelus coioides (Serranidae), and P. selaris n. sp. (males) probably from the abdominal cavity (found in washings) of Selar crumenophthalmus (Carangidae). The new species are characterised mainly by the length and structure of the spicules and gubernaculum, body size, their location in the host and the type of host. Philometra austropacifica n. sp. is the first known nominal gonad-infecting species of Philometra parasitising a carangid fish. In addition, the gravid female of P. fasciati Moravec & Justine, 2008 from the ovary of Epinephelus fasciatus (Serranidae) is described for the first time. Carangid host fish were identified by both morphology and DNA barcoding.

Shark feeding is widespread throughout tropical, subtropical and temperate marine ecosystems and gives rise to controversy because there is little consensus regarding its management. There are few comprehensive reports that consider how shark feeding with bait might impact local fishes, despite the development of this practice during the last few decades. Although shark feeding might theoretically have parasitological effects on local non-target fish species in the vicinity of feeding areas, this aspect has never been investigated. During an extensive parasitological survey conducted between 2005 and 2007, a total of 1117 fish belonging to six common grouper and snapper species were sampled throughout the entire north coast of Moorea Island (French Polynesia), encompassing three localities where feeding has occurred frequently since the 1990s. Parasites exhibited no spatial patterns except for the infections on the blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus). On this species, the prevalence of larval cestodes that parasitise sharks as adults and the intensity of their infestation were significantly higher around shark-feeding localities compared with non-shark-feeding localities. Our results suggest for the first time that although long-term shark feeding has parasitological implications, the impacts appear limited, only involve cestode larvae from one host species and do not seem to affect the health of the fish we studied.

In 1995, in collaboration with local Bedouin fishermen, five no-take fisheries reserves were established within the Nabq Natural Resource Protected Area, South Sinai, Egyptian Red Sea. The abundance, size structure and catch of commercially targeted groupers (Serranidae), emperors (Lethrinidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae) were investigated before the establishment of these reserves, then in 1997 and again in 2000. By 1997, these fish had shown a significant increase in mean abundance within two of the no-take reserves. By 2000 each family and three individual species (Lethrinus obsoletus, Cephalopholis argus and Variola louti) had increased in abundance in the reserves. There were significant increases in mean individual length of the serranids Epinephelus fasciatus and C. argus and of the lethrinids L. nebulosus and Monotaxis grandoculis. Meanwhile, mean recorded catch per unit effort (CPUE) within the adjacent fished areas increased by about two-thirds (P

A productive fishing ground for rock perch (Epinephelus fasciatus) was located off Ratnagiri between 17 degree 00' to 17 degree 10' N latitude and 72 degree 20' to 72 degree 30' E longitude, around a depth of 96m during November, 1983. An average catch of 2 ton/hr. was recorded. Length frequency studies of E. fasciatus indicate the probability of a nursery ground consisting of three brood stocks. Hydrographic studies of the ground revealed that the bottom water was oxygen deficient below a strong thermocline extending from 15-75 m depth with the recorded bottom temperature amounting to 20.5 degree C.

Hypocreadium toombo n. sp. is described from the balistid Pseudobalistes fuscus from the waters off New Caledonia. It is distinguished by a series of characters shared by no other Hypocreadium species. The specimens are always slightly longer than wide, have a distinct anterior notch, have the vitelline fields confluent or nearly so in the forebody and have the terminal ends of the caeca pointing anteriorly. Other lepocreadiid species also recorded from New Caledonian waters are Lobatocreadium exiguum from P. fuscus, Intusatrium robustum from Bodianus perditio and B. loxozonus, Postlepidapedon secundum from Choerodon graphicus and Lepidapedoides angustus from Epinephelus fasciatus.