Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822)

Itajara

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Serranidae \| Epinephelinae
Synonyms	Serranus itajara, Serranus guasa, Serranus quinquefasciatus, ... more
Common names	Jewfish, Mérou géant, Mero guasa, ... more

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 250 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26550); common length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 455.0 kg (Ref. 4841); max. reported age: 37 years (Ref. 4841)

Length at first maturity

L_m 120.50

Environment

Reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range ? - 100 m (Ref. 9710), usually ? - 46 m (Ref. 55295)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 36°N - 33°S, 121°W - 12°E (Ref. 55295)

Western Atlantic: Florida, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Congo (reported as Epinephelus esonue, Ref. 2739, 6809); rare in Canary Islands (Ref. 6808). Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Peru.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Head long. Opercle with 3 flat spines, middle one the largest. Pelvic fins smaller than the pectorals. Bases of soft dorsal and anal fins covered with scales and thick skin. Juveniles tawny with irregular vertical bands.

A solitary species (Ref. 26340) occurring in shallow, inshore areas. Found on rock, coral, or mud bottoms (Ref. 5217). Juveniles found in mangrove areas and brackish estuaries (Ref. 5217). Large adults may be found in estuaries (Ref. 5217). Adults appear to occupy limited home ranges with little inter-reef movement. Feeds primarily on crustaceans, particularly spiny lobsters as well as turtles and fishes, including stingrays. Territorial near it's refuge cave or wreck where it may show a threat display with open mouth and quivering body. Larger individuals have been known to stalk and attempt to eat divers. Over-fished, primarily by spear fishing (Ref. 9710). Marketed fresh and salted. Meat is of excellent quality. Important game fish (Ref. 9342). Reported to reach weights of more than 315 kg (Ref. 26938).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2d), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group	Traumatogenic (Ref. 4716)

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment Abundance	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)

PD₅₀ = 0.5000

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.13; tm=5.5-6.5)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
High to very high vulnerability (70 of 100)	Very high

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Kesner-Reyes, Kathleen

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