Mycteroperca interstitialis

Yellowmouth grouper
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Genus: Mycteroperca
Species: M. interstitialis
Binomial name
Mycteroperca interstitialis

Mycteroperca interstitialis (commonly known as the yellowmouth grouper, crossband rockfish, grey mannock, hamlet, harlequin rockfish, princess rockfish, rockfish, salmon grouper, salmon rock fish and the scamp) is a species of grouper that lives in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean in the tropical waters. It is also found in pockets in Brazil. It is a fairly large fish and it gets its name from the yellow around its mouth.

Description

The yellowmouth grouper is fairly large and robust. It has yellow markings on its sides as well as its mouth and they also appear on its upper dorsal fin. It has rusty brown stripes that run down the side of its body and a white underbelly. The fins are a blueish colour but also include a bit of gray. They can potentially grow up to 70 cm, but most stop growing at 40 cm. Some variants of this fish have mort distinct brown markings as opposed to yellow. The juvenile is similarly coloured except it contains darker brown stripes and overall is darker brown.

Distribution

The yellowmouth grouper is very widely spread. It covers the waters surrounding Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Brazil; Cayman Islands; Colombia; Cuba; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Mexico; Montserrat; Netherlands Antilles; 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, Bolivarian Republic of; Virgin Islands, British; Virgin Islands, U.S. It is fished around the southwest Atlantic.

Habitat

The yellowmouth grouper will occasionally swim into shallower waters, but normally lives in deep waters. It is also found on rocky bottoms and coral beds that range from 4 to 55 meters in depth. The smaller individuals will stay in the shallows.

Diet

Groupers will mostly prey on things smaller than them. They will eat smaller fish, crabs, lobster and other crustaceans.

Threats

These fish have a few threats facing them. There is always the threat of overfishing. Yellowmouth grouper has an amazing taste so people are always looking to eat some which causes the market for them to spike resulting in overfishing.

References

  1. ↑ Shuk Man, C. & Ng Wai Chuen (Grouper & Wrasse Specialist Group) (2006). "Epinephelus lanceolatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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