Serranidae, Swainson, 1839

LARSON, HELEN K., WILLIAMS, REX S. & HAMMER, MICHAEL P., 2013, <strong> An annotated checklist of the fishes of the Northern Territory, Australia </ strong>, Zootaxa 3696 (1), pp. 1-293 : 97-103

Serranidae

(groupers)

Anyperodon leucogrammicus (Valenciennes, 1828)

Whitelined Rockcod

Serranus leucogrammicus Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828: 347 ( Seychelles).

Anyperodon leucogrammicus — Taylor 1964: 173 (reef, Yirrkala ).

No NTM specimens held; Taylor’s description can only apply to this species.

Cephalopholis argus Bloch and Schneider, 1801

Peacock Rockcod

Cephalopholis argus Bloch and Schneider, 1801: 311 (East Indies).— McCulloch 1929: 151 (Northern Territory); Taylor 1964: 169 (Yirrkalla); Paxton et al. 1989: 490 (NT); Hoese et al. 2006: 1004 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast).

Cephalopholis boenack ( Bloch, 1790)

Brownbarred Rockcod

Bodianus boenack Bloch, 1790: 43 , pl. 226 ( Japan).

Serranus pachycentrum — Macleay 1878: 346 (Port Darwin).

Serranus boenack — Klunzinger 1880: 335 (Port Darwin).

Epinephelus pachycentrum — Whitley 1927: 8 (Sir Edward Pellew Group, Gulf of Carpentaria).

Cephalopholis boenack — McCulloch 1929: 150–151 (Northern Territory); Paxton et al. 1989: 490–491 (NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Blaber et al. 1992 (Groote Eylandt).

Cephalopholis boelang — Taylor 1964: 168 (Hemple Bay; Bartalumba Bay; Yirrkalla; Port Bradshaw; Goulburn Island).

Cephalopholis boenak — Randall and Heemstra 1991: 39 (Woody Reef off Gove; North Oxley Island; New Year’s Island; Sandy Island off Cobourg Peninsula; Port Essington; Gunn Point, Darwin; Fish Reef, Bynoe Harbour); Larson and Williams 1997: 354 (NW tip East Point; Channel Island); Hoese et al. 2006: 1004 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast).

Cepholopholis boenack — Pender et al. 1992: 66 (western Gulf of Carpentaria).

Mjrungga Island, Milingimbi.

Cephalopholis cyanostigma (Valenciennes, 1828)

Bluespotted Rockcod

Serranus cyanostigma Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828: 359 (Java).

Cephalopholis cyanostigma — Randall and Heemstra 1991: 43 (North Oxley Island, NT).

Cephalopholis igarashiensis Katayama, 1957

Goldbar Rockcod

Cephalopholis igarashiensis Katayama, 1957: 156 (Sumisu-tu, Izu Islands, Japan).

Blackwood Shoals, Timor Sea (NTM S.14618-001).

New record for the NT.

Cephalopholis miniata (Forsskål, 1755)

Coral Rockcod

Perca miniata Forsskål, 1775: 41 (Red Sea).

New record for the NT, from photograph by Kim Andersen of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, among fish illegally taken from top of Franklin Shoal, 9° 53.37’S 129° 09.09’E ( Fig. 4 ).

Also Goodrich Bank, from photograph by Matt Flynn ( Fig. 5 ).

Cephalopholis sonnerati (Valenciennes, 1828) Tomato Rockcod Serranus sonnerati Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828: 299 ( Pondicherry, India). Cephalopholis sonnerati — Paxton et al. 1989: 492 (near Darwin, N.T.); Hoese et al. 2006: 1006 (NT; N coast, near

Darwin).

NNW of Bathurst Island; SW of Lynedoch Bank.

Chelidoperca margaritifera Weber, 1913

Pearly Perchlet

Chelidoperca margaritifera Weber, 1913b: 207 (between Misol and New Guinea).

Chelidoperca sp. 1 — Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E).

Arafura Sea; NW of Cape Wessel.

New record for the NT (NTM S.12919-002).

Chelidoperca pleurospilos Günther, 1880

Sidespotted Perchlet

Centropristis pleurospilus Günther, 1880: 37 (Kai Islands, Challenger station 192, Arafura Sea).

N of Melville Island.

New record for the NT (NTM S.12930-001).

Chromileptes altivelis (Valenicennes, 1828)

Barramundi Cod

Serranus altivelis Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828: 324 (Java).— Günther 1859: 152 (Port Essington).

Chromileptes altivelis — McCulloch 1929: 152 (Northern Territory); Whitley 1966: 94 (NT).

Cromileptes altivelis — Paxton et al. 1989: 492 (NT); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 74 (Port Essington); Larson and Williams 1997: 354 (Elizabeth River); Hoese et al. 2006: 1007 (NT; N coast).

Diploprion bifasciatum Kuhl and van Hasselt, 1828

Barred Soapfish

Diploprion bifasciatum Kuhl and van Hasselt, 1828: 137 (Java) .— Macleay 1878: 346 (Port Darwin); Taylor 1964: 168 (Little Lagoon, Groote Eylandt); Paxton et al. 1989: 517 (NT); Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Darwin Harbour); Hoese et al. 2006: 1001 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast). Mouth of Liverpool River.

Epinephelus amblycephalus (Bleeker, 1857)

Banded Grouper

Serranus amblycephalus Bleeker, 1857a: 32 ( Ambon) .

Epinephelus amblycephalus — Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 96 (Cape Wesel [sic]); Hoese et al. 2006: 1008 (NT; N coast, Cape Wessel).

Epinephelus areolatus ( Forsskål, 1775)

Yellowspotted Rockcod

Perca areolatus Forsskål, 1775: 42 (Djedda, Red Sea).

Epinephelus areolatus — Sainsbury et al. 1984: 337 (Region D [= Top End NT seas]); Paxton et al. 1989: 493 (NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 101 (Arafura Sea, Timor Sea N of Bathurst Island); Pender et al. 1992: 66 (western Gulf of Carpentaria); Hoese et al. 2006: 1008 (NT; N coast).

Epinephelus bilobatus Randall and Allen, 1987

Frostback Rockcod

Epinephelus bilobatus Randall and Allen, 1987: 406 (Rosemary Island, Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia). Epinephelus maculatus — Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E).

Arafura Sea.

New record for the NT (S.13542-001).

Epinephelus bleekeri (Vaillant, 1877)

Duskytail Grouper

Serranus bleekeri Vaillant, 1877: 69 (replacement name for Serranus variolosus (non Valenciennes) Bleeker, 1849).

Epinephelus bleekeri — Randall and Heemstra 1991: 105 (Coburg [sic] Peninsula (NTM S.10434-002)); Hoese et al. 2006: 1008 (NT; N coast, Cobourg Peninsula); Russell and Smit 2007: 244 (Kakadu).

Field Island.

Epinephelus chlorostigma (Valenciennes, 1828)

Coral Grouper

Serranus chlorostigma Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828: 352 ( Seychelles).

Blackwood Shoals, Timor Sea; SW of Evans Shoal, Arafura Sea.

New record for the NT (NTM S.16295-003, S.12628-003).

Epinephelus coioides ( Hamilton, 1822)

Goldspotted Rockcod

Bola coioides Hamilton, 1822: 82 , 369 (Ganges River, India).

Serranus pantherinus — Klunzinger 1880: 334 (Port Darwin).

Epinephelus tauvina — Boulenger 1895: 244 (Port Essington); Taylor 1964: 172 (Nightcliff; Little Lagoon; Groote Eylandt; Bartalumba Bay; Melville Bay; Yirrkalla; Port Bradshaw; Milingimbi Island); Blaber et al. 1992: 7 (Groote Eylandt).

Epinephelus suillus — Paxton et al. 1989: 498 (NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Blaber et al. 1992: 7 (Groote Eylandt).

Epinephelus coioides — Randall and Heemstra 1991:125 (Guma [sic; Gunn] Point, NE of Shoal Bay); Pender et al. 1992: 66 (western Gulf of Carpentaria); Larson 1992: 8 (Bing Bong Creek; Home Creek); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Nighcliff; reef off Bullocky Point; N side Channel Island); Larson 1997: 31 (Field Island); Larson 1998: 33 (Maxwell Creek, Melville Island); Larson 1999b: 32 (Kakadu); Larson 1999c: 27 (Field Island); Larson 2000: 41 (Kakadu); Hoese et al. 2006: 1009 (NT; N coast, eastern NT).

Goulburn Island; Town Beach, Milingimbi.

Epinephelus corallicola (Valenciennes, 1828)

Coral Grouper

Serranus corallicola Valenciennes (ex Kuhl and van Hasselt), in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828: 336 (Java).— Macleay 1878: 346 (Port Darwin).

Epinephelus corallicola — McCulloch 1929: 147 (Northern Territory); Taylor 1964: 171 (Nightcliff; Little Lagoon; Groote Eylandt; Yirrkalla; Port Bradshaw); Paxton et al. 1989: 493 (NT); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 125, 127 (several NT localities); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Darwin; Lee Point); Hoese et al. 2006: 1009 (NT; N coast, Cape Arnhem).

Epinephelus darwinensis Randall and Heemstra, 1991 Darwin Grouper Epinephelus darwinensis Randall and Heemstra, 1991: 133–136 (Timor Sea, N of Bathurst Island).— Heemstra and

Randall 1999: 2543 (map); Hoese et al. 2006: 1010 (NT; N coast, N of Bathurst Island).

Holotype NTM S.12346-001.

Epinephelus epistictus (Temminck and Schlegel, 1842)

Dotted Grouper

Serranus epistictus Temminck and Schlegel, 1842: 8 (Nagasaki, Japan).

Epinephelus epistictus — Paxton et al. 1989: 494 (NW of Darwin, NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Hoese et al. 2006: 1010 (NT; N coast, north-west of Darwin).

Epinephelus episticus — Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E).

Epinephelus fasciatus ( Forsskål, 1775)

Blacktip Rockcod

Perca fasciata Forsskål, 1775: 40 (Red Sea).

Epinephelus fasciatus — Paradice and Whitley 1927: 84 (Pellew Islands); Taylor 1964: 169 (Chasm Island; Yirrkalla); Sainsbury et al. 1984: 337 (Region D [= Top End NT seas]); Paxton et al. 1989: 494 (NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 151 (Roche Reef; Coburg (sic) Peninsula; etc); Hoese et al. 2006: 1011 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast).

Epinephelus fuscoguttatus Forsskål, 1775 Flowery Rockcod Perca summana var. fusco-guttatus Forsskål, 1775: 41 (Suerens and Djeddah). Serranus fuscoguttatus — Günther 1859: 127 (Port Darwin); Macleay 1878: 346 (Port Darwin). Epinephelus fuscoguttatus — Taylor 1964: 170 (Yirrkalla); Paxton et al. 1989: 495 (NT); Randall and Heemstra

1991:159 (New Year's Island); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Port Darwin); Hoese et al. 2006: 1012

(NT; N coast).

Epinephelus heniochus Fowler, 1904

Threeline Rockcod

Epinephelus (Aethaloperca) heniochus Fowler, 1904: 522 (Padang, Sumatra). Epinephelus heniochus — Sainsbury et al. 1984: 337 (Region D [= Top End NT seas]); Paxton et al. 1989: 494–495 (near Darwin, NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 166 (Northern Territory, Arafura Sea; N of Cape Wessel); Hoese et al. 2006: 1012 (NT; N coast, near Darwin).

Epinephelus lanceolatus ( Bloch, 1790) Queensland Grouper Holocentrus lanceolatus Bloch, 1790: 92 (East Indies). Promicrops lanceolatus —Munro 1958: 163 (presumably NT). Epinephelus lanceolatus — Taylor 1964: 173 (Emerald River, Groote Eylandt); Paxton et al. 1989: 495 (NT);

Blaber et al. 1992: 7 (Groote Eylandt); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Elizabeth River; Mandorah

Wharf); Larson 1997: 31 (Kakadu); Larson 1999b: 33 (Kakadu); Hoese et al. 2006: 1013 (NT; N coast).

Epinephelus latifasciatus (Temminck and Schlegel, 1842)

Striped Grouper

Serranus latifasciatus Temminck and Schlegel, 1842: 6 (Nagasaki, Japan).

Epinephelus latifasciatus — Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E).

NW of Cape Wessel; Arafura Sea.

Epinephelus malabaricus ( Bloch and Schneider, 1801)

Blackspotted Rockcod

Holocentrus malabaricus Bloch and Schneider, 1801: 319 ( Tranquebar) .

Serranus crapao — Richardson 1842a: 25 (Port Essington); Macleay 1878: 346 (Port Darwin); Zietz 1891: 2 (Northern Territory).

Epinephelus tauvina — McCulloch 1929: 149 (Northern Territory).

Epinephelus malabaricus ?— Paxton et al. 1989: 495 (NT).

Epinephelus malabaricus — Randall and Heemstra 1991: 1994, 197 (E Vernon Island; Millingimbi); Blaber et al. 1992: 7 (Groote Eylandt); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Port Darwin); Heemstra and Randall 1999: 2511 (Northern Territory); Hoese et al. 2006: 1014 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast); Fisher and Calaby 2009: 31 (Port Essington).

Creek on NE side Milingimbi

.

Epinephelus morrhua (Valenciennes, 1833)

Comet Grouper

Serranus morrhua Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1833: 434 ( Isle de France [ Mauritius]).

Epinephelus morrhua — Paxton et al. 1989: 496 (near Darwin, NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 213 (70 miles NW of Melville Island); Heemstra and Randall 1999: 2486 (Northern Territory); Hoese et al. 2006: 1015 (NT; N coast, near Darwin).

Epinephelus multinotatus (Peters, 1877)

Rankin Cod

Serranus multinotatus Peters, 1877a: 435 ( Mauritius) .

Epinephelus multinotatus — Kailola et al. 1993: 260 (Wessel Islands).

Epinephelus rankini — Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E).

Epinephelus ongus ( Bloch, 1790)

Specklefin Grouper

Holocentrus ongus Bloch, 1790: 69 ( Japan [erroneous; Java]).

Epinephelus summana — Taylor 1964: 170 (Yirrkalla).

? Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus —Munro 1958: 688 (presumably NT).

Epinephelus ongus — Paxton et al. 1989: 496–497 (Arnhem Land, NT); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 222 (East Bremer Island; North Oxley Island); Hoese et al. 2006: 1016 (NT; N coast, Arnhem Land).

Epinephelus polyphekadion (Bleeker, 1849)

Camouflage Grouper

Serranus polyphekadion Bleeker, 1849b: 39 (Batavia) .

Epinephelus polyphekadion — Hoese et al. 2006: 1016 (NT; N coast).

Epinephelus quoyanus (Valenciennes, 1830)

Longfin Rockcod

Serranus quoyanus Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830: 519 (New Guinea).

Serranus gilberti Richardson, 1842b: 19 (Port Essington, NT).

? Serranus stellans Richardson, 1842b:23 (Melville Island, on the south side of Torres Straits [locality uncertain]).

Serranus merra — Macleay 1878: 346 (Port Darwin).

Serranus hexagonatus — Klunzinger 1880: 334 (Port Darwin).

Epinephelus megachir — Paradice and Whitley 1927: 85 (Pellew Islands and Darwin).

Epinephelus gilberti — Taylor 1964: 170 (Little Lagoon, Groote Eylandt; Bartalumba Bay; Yirrkalla; Port Bradshaw).

Epinephelus quoyanus — Sainsbury et al. 1984: 337 (Region D [= Top End NT seas]); Paxton et al. 1989: 497 (NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 243 (Port Essington; E side Vernon Island; Darwin); Pender et al. 1992: 66 (Arnhem coast); Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (NW tip East Point; reef off Bullocky Point); Hoese et al. 2006: 1017 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast); Fisher and Calaby 2009: 34 (Black Point, Port Essington).

Epinephelus merra — Paxton et al. 1989: 496 (NT); Hoese et al. 2006: 1014 (NT; N coast).

Epinephelus radiatus ( Day, 1868)

Radiant Rockcod

Serranus radiatus Day, 1868: 699 (near Madras, India).

Epinephelus radiatus — Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E).

Epinephelus sexfasciatus (Valenciennes, 1828)

Sixbar Grouper

Serranus sexfasciatus Valenciennes , in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1828: 360 (Java).

Epinephelus sexfasciatus — McCulloch 1929: 149 (Arafura Sea); Sainsbury et al. 1984: 337 (Region D [= Top End NT seas]); Paxton et al. 1989: 498 (N.T.); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 257 (Burns Shoal, off Point Arrowsmith; N of Groote Eylandt; Arafura Sea; N of Cape Wessel; off Arnhemland; Smith Point, Coboway [Cobourg] Peninsula; 10 miles off Port Essington; Melville Island; Darwin); Pender et al. 1992: 66 (Joseph Bonaparte Gulf; Fog Bay; Melville Island area; Arnhem coast; western Gulf of Carpentaria); Larson 1992: 8 (Bing Bong Creek; Mule Creek); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Darwin); Hoese et al. 2006: 1018 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast).

Liverpool River mouth, Arnhem Land.

Grammistes sexlineatus ( Thunberg, 1792)

Lined Soapfish

Perca sexlineata Thunberg, 1792: 142 (East Indies).

Grammistes sexlineatus — Whitley 1966: 95 (NT); Paxton et al. 1989: 517 (NT); Hoese et al. 2006: 1027 (NT; N coast).

Plectranthias japonicus ( Steindachner, 1883)

Japanese Perchlet

Paracirrhites japonicus Steindachner , in Steindachner and Döderlein, 1883: 25 ( Japan).

Plectranthias japonicus — Sainsbury et al. 1984: 337 (Region D [= Top End NT seas]); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Hoese et al. 2006: 990 (NT; N coast, NE of Darwin).

Sayonara satsumae — Paxton et al. 1989: 507 (425 km NE of Darwin).

Plectropomus leopardus ( Lacepède, 1802)

Common Coral Trout

Holocentrus leopardus Lacepède, 1802: 332 , 367 (Mer des Indes).

Plectropomus leopardus — Paxton et al. 1989: 500 (N.T.); Hoese et al. 2006: 1022 (NT; N coast).

Plectropomus maculatus ( Bloch, 1790)

Barcheek Coral Trout

Bodianus maculatus Bloch, 1790: 48 ( Japan) .

Plectropomus maculatus — Paradice and Whitley 1927: 84 (Pellew Islands); Taylor 1964: 168 (Yirrkalla); Sainsbury et al. 1984: 337 (Region D [= Top End NT seas]); Paxton et al. 1989: 500 (NT); Russell and Houston 1989: 81 (Arafura Sea); Pender et al. 1992: 66 (western Gulf of Carpentaria); Larson and Williams 1997: 355 (Lee Point Reef; Darwin Harbour); Hoese et al. 2006: 1022 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast). South Goulburn Island.

Pseudanthias cooperi (Regan, 1902)

Red Basslet

Anthias cooperi Regan, 1902: 273 (Haddumati, Maldives).— Paxton et al. 1989: 501 (N.T.).

Pseudanthias cooperi — Hoese et al. 2006: 992 (NT; Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast).

Pseudanthias sp.

Unidentified basslet

Anthias sp. — Ramm 1997: 15 (Timor and Arafura Seas, between longitudes 127– 137° E).

Margaret Harries Bank, S of Calder Shoal; SE of Evans Shoal, Timor Sea (NTM S.14909-001, S.14747- 001) ( Fig. 6 ).

These specimens probably represent an undescribed species (P. Heemstra, pers. comm. 1998).

Pseudogramma polyacanthum (Bleeker, 1856)

Honeycomb Podge

Pseudochromis polyacanthus Bleeker, 1856b: 375 ( Ternate) .

Pseudogramma polyacanthus — Paxton et al. 1989: 523 (N.T.).

Pseudogramma polyacanthum — Hoese et al. 2006: 1014 (NT; N coast).

Saloptia powelli Smith, 1964

Golden Grouper

Saloptia powelli Smith, 1964: 719 ( Cook Islands).

Evans Shoal, Timor Sea.

New record for the NT (NTM S.13154-001).

Selenanthias analis Tanaka, 1918

Pearlspot Fairy Basslet

Selenanthias analis Tanaka, 1918: 516 (Tokyo fish market).

N of Bathurst Island.

New record for the NT (NTM S.12927-003).

Variola albimarginata Baissac, 1953

White-edge Coronation Trout

Variola albimarginatus Baissac, 1953: 214 ( Mauritius) .— Paxton et al. 1989: 501 (NW of Darwin, NT); Randall and Heemstra 1991: 304 (northwest of Darwin); Hoese et al. 2006: 1024 (NT; N coast, north-west of Darwin).

Goodrich Bank (based on photograph by Matt Flynn).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Cephalopholis miniata, photograph by Kim Andersen of AFMA, among fish illegally taken from top of Franklin Shoal, 9° 53.37’S 129° 09.09’E.

FIGURE 5. Cephalopholis miniata, from Goodrich Bank. Photo by Matt Flynn.

FIGURE 6. Pseudanthias sp., fresh-dead specimens, from among coral trawled up from 130 m, SE of Evans Shoal.