Epinephelus mystacinus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	SERRANIDAE

Scientific Name:

Epinephelus mystacinus

Species Authority:

Poey, 1852

Common Name/s:

English	–	Misty Grouper, Bigeyed Grouper, Black Grouper, Convict Grouper, Moustache Grouper
French	–	Merou, Merou Brouillard
Spanish	–	Cherna, Cherna De Lo Alto, Cherna Del Alto, Cherna Judia Negra, Cherna Pintada, Cherno Del Alto, Guasa, Mero, Mero Gallina, Mero Listado

Synonym/s:

Epinephelus octofasciatus (non Griffin, 1926)

Serranus mystacinus Poey, 1852

Taxonomic Notes:

Mis-identified as E. octofasciatus based on specimen collected from Japan (Heemstra and Randall 1993). Eastern Pacific population may be a distinct species (Craig and Heemstra, pers. comm.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2008
Assessor/s	Rocha, L., Ferreira, B., Choat, J.H., Craig, M. & Sadovy, Y.
Evaluator/s:	Sadovy, Y. & Moss, K. (Grouper and Wrasse Red List Authority)
Justification: Based on its deep habitat, and apparent constant catches, Epinephelus mystacinus is currently not experiencing significant decline, but warrants continued monitoring since little is known of its biology and because it is a target of the commercial fishery. The current assessment of this species is Least Concern.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Epinephelus mystacinus occurs in the western Atlantic, where it is found in Bermuda, North Carolina (USA), Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba, Yucatan (Mexico), Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Leeward islands to Trinidad. In the eastern Pacific, it is reported from the Galápagos Islands, Paramount Seamount, coastal Ecuador, northeast coast of Brazil south to 22° and Trindade Island.
Countries:	Native: Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Cayman Islands; Colombia; Cuba; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Mexico; Montserrat; Puerto Rico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; United States; United States Minor Outlying Islands; Venezuela; Virgin Islands, British; Virgin Islands, U.S.
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Atlantic – western central; Pacific – southeast

Population [top]

Population:	General Epinephelus mystacinus was described as “mysterious” and “rarely seen” grouper species (Schobernd 2004). Fishery-independent data There is no studies on the abundance except the annual species and abundance survey conducted by novice and expert divers. Fishery-independent data by country USA-based on the information from Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), the sighting frequency (SF; a value calculated as dividing the number of survey with Epinephelus mystacinus encountered [n] by the total number of survey carried out in a particular year [N]) of Epinephelus mystacinus in tropical western Atlantic ranged from 48.0% to 60.5%, with an average of 0.010% from 1993 to 2005 (www.reef.org/data; accessed on 15th Sep 2006) (Table 1). Follow the link below for Table 1: sighting frequency of E. mystacinus from underwater visla census by Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). Bullock and Smith (1991) did not record any Epinephelus mystacinus during their survey on groupers from the west Florida shelf. Fishery-dependent Data NMFS is the only source on the landings of Epinephelus mystacinus. Fishery-dependent data by country USA According to NMFS, annual landings of commercial catches of Epinephelus mystacinus in the USA from 1990 to 2003, the quantity caught stayed relatively low (0.8 to 2.0 metric tonnes) with no data available in 1991 to 1995, 1997 to 1998, 2001 and 2004 to 2005 (www.st.nmfs.gov, accessed on 14th September 2006) (Table 2). Follow the link below for Table 2: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) commercial catch data 1990-2003. Commercial landings are minor and there is little recreational take in SE US. Central Brazil The catch per unit effort for Epinephelus mystacinus in Brazil was 3.2 fish per 1,000 hooks between 100 to 300 m. For further information about this species, see 132827.pdf. A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required.
Population Trend:	Stable

Population:

General
Epinephelus mystacinus was described as “mysterious” and “rarely seen” grouper species (Schobernd 2004).

Fishery-independent data
There is no studies on the abundance except the annual species and abundance survey conducted by novice and expert divers.

Fishery-independent data by country
USA-based on the information from Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), the sighting frequency (SF; a value calculated as dividing the number of survey with Epinephelus mystacinus encountered [n] by the total number of survey carried out in a particular year [N]) of Epinephelus mystacinus in tropical western Atlantic ranged from 48.0% to 60.5%, with an average of 0.010% from 1993 to 2005 (www.reef.org/data; accessed on 15th Sep 2006) (Table 1).

Follow the link below for Table 1: sighting frequency of E. mystacinus from underwater visla census by Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).

Bullock and Smith (1991) did not record any Epinephelus mystacinus during their survey on groupers from the west Florida shelf.

Fishery-dependent Data
NMFS is the only source on the landings of Epinephelus mystacinus.

Fishery-dependent data by country
USA
According to NMFS, annual landings of commercial catches of Epinephelus mystacinus in the USA from 1990 to 2003, the quantity caught stayed relatively low (0.8 to 2.0 metric tonnes) with no data available in 1991 to 1995, 1997 to 1998, 2001 and 2004 to 2005 (www.st.nmfs.gov, accessed on 14th September 2006) (Table 2).

Follow the link below for Table 2: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) commercial catch data 1990-2003.

Commercial landings are minor and there is little recreational take in SE US.

Central Brazil
The catch per unit effort for Epinephelus mystacinus in Brazil was 3.2 fish per 1,000 hooks between 100 to 300 m.

For further information about this species, see 132827.pdf.

A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required.

Population Trend:

Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	General Epinephelus mystacinus is a bathydemersal species that is typically solitary and occurs from 100 to 400 m. Juveniles sometimes occur in water as shallow as 30 m. Feeding Feeds on fishes, crustaceans, and squids. Virtually nothing is known of the age, growth, and reproduction of this species. Size and mortality Epinephelus mystacinus attains a maximum body weight of 107.0 kg, with male attaining a maximum size of 160 cm TL and females at least 100 cm TL (Appeldorn et al. 1997, Heemstra and Randall 1993). Natural mortality is estimated to be 0.14 (J. McGovern, pers. com.) Reproduction and maturity The estimated size at maturity is 81.1 cm (31.9 in), although this may not be accurate (J. McGovern, pers. com). No information is available on its reproductive life history, including spawning and sexual pattern. Virtually nothing is known of the age and growth of this species (Heemstra and Randall 1993).
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

General
Epinephelus mystacinus is a bathydemersal species that is typically solitary and occurs from 100 to 400 m. Juveniles sometimes occur in water as shallow as 30 m.

Feeding
Feeds on fishes, crustaceans, and squids. Virtually nothing is known of the age, growth, and reproduction of this species.

Size and mortality
Epinephelus mystacinus attains a maximum body weight of 107.0 kg, with male attaining a maximum size of 160 cm TL and females at least 100 cm TL (Appeldorn et al. 1997, Heemstra and Randall 1993). Natural mortality is estimated to be 0.14 (J. McGovern, pers. com.)

Reproduction and maturity
The estimated size at maturity is 81.1 cm (31.9 in), although this may not be accurate (J. McGovern, pers. com). No information is available on its reproductive life history, including spawning and sexual pattern.

Virtually nothing is known of the age and growth of this species (Heemstra and Randall 1993).

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Epinephelus mystacinus is threatened by both recreational and commercial fisheries (Heemstra and Randall 1993).

Major Threat(s):

Epinephelus mystacinus is threatened by both recreational and commercial fisheries (Heemstra and Randall 1993).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are closed areas in the Gulf of Mexico (Madison-Swanson) and South Atlantic (Oculina HAPC) where misty grouper may occur. In addition, Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan of the South Atlantic Region will be implemented during 2007. Misty grouper may occur in some of the proposed South Atlantic MPAs.

Conservation Actions:

There are closed areas in the Gulf of Mexico (Madison-Swanson) and South Atlantic (Oculina HAPC) where misty grouper may occur. In addition, Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan of the South Atlantic Region will be implemented during 2007. Misty grouper may occur in some of the proposed South Atlantic MPAs.

Citation:	Rocha, L., Ferreira, B., Choat, J.H., Craig, M. & Sadovy, Y. 2008. Epinephelus mystacinus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 06 January 2009.
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