Animalia Life

Epinephelus striatus
FAMILY
Serranidae
TAXONOMY
Epinephelus striatus (Bloch, 1792), Martinique, West Indies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Mйrou rayй; Spanish: Cherna criolla.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Robust body with sloping forehead, large fins, and a somewhat truncated caudal fin (rounded in juveniles). There are 11–12 spines, the third or fourth being the longest, and 16–18 soft rays in the notched dorsal fin, and 3 spines and 8 soft rays in the anal fin. Body color is tawny brown (shallow water) to pinkish brown or red (deeper water). There are alternating dark (brown or olive) and pale bands along the flanks and onto the dorsal fins, with similar dark bands extending along the head to the snout, a dark saddle on the upper caudal peduncle, and dark spots around the eye. Two color phases, pale and dark, are controlled
BEHAVIOR
ally, and change between one and the other is rapid. Grows to about 47 in (120 cm) in total length.
DISTRIBUTION
Western Atlantic, from Bermuda and Florida south to the Bahamas and the Yucatan Peninsula, throughout the Caribbean, and south to northern Brazil. Absent from most of the Gulf of Mexico.
HABITAT
Juveniles usually found in sea grass beds, while adults prefer coral and rocky reefs to a depth of 295 ft (90 m).
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
An ambush or hunting predator that feeds upon smaller fishes, crustaceans (mainly crabs), and large mollusks. Vulnerable to natural predation mainly as juveniles; adults vulnerable to larger predators such as sharks and large barracudas.
BEHAVIOR
Generally solitary as adults, although may form aggregations (especially for spawning). Site specific but probably with a large territory. Changes color pattern from one phase to the other depending upon circumstances. Not especially wary and may be friendly towards divers.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Matures at about 16–18 in (40–45 cm) in standard length, somewhere between 4–8 years of age. A protogynous hermaphrodite, but primary males have also been found. Spawns pelagically in large aggregations that form at specific locations annually depending upon lunar phase and water temperature. Courtship occurs within the aggregation just prior to or after sunset with spawning soon after sunset. The two color phases are used at this time to indicate submissive roles that reduce aggregation and promote courtship
BEHAVIOR
. Females assume a dark color phase during courtship and lead spawning events. Events occur usually in subgroups of 3–25 fish, with a spawning ascent well into the water column. Eggs and larvae are pelagic.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Spawning aggregations of this species should be protected and fisheries harvests greatly restricted.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Important in commercial, subsistence, and recreational fisheries but now severely overfished throughout most of its range. Especially vulnerable when in spawning aggregations. Also collected for large aquaria. May be ciguatoxic in some areas.

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