Dermatolepis inermis
Marbled Grouper
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Serranidae (Sea Basses and Groupers)
Dermatolepis
Dermatolepis inermis (Marbled Grouper)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Inconspicuous opercular spines, long anal fin, weakly ctenoid or cycloid scales. Profile of head is steep and nearly straight. Anterior and posterior nares are close set, and posterior naris is 2 or 3 times size of anterior naris. Maxilla extends to about center of eye, with ventral margin smooth and lacking step or bony knob. Supramaxilla is well developed. Jaw teeth are small. Preoperculum is subangular, posterior margin bears fine serrae covered with skin, and serrae at angle are enlarged. Lower opercular spine is rudimentary, and upper edge of operculum is convex. Gill rakers on first arch number 19 to 22. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 36%–40%, pectoral fin length 29%–35%, body depth 40%–45%. Pectoral fin is broadly rounded and symmetrically shaped and has 18 or 19 rays. Dorsal fin has 11 spines and 18 to 20 rays, and fin membrane is slightly incised between spines. Anal fin has 8 to 10 rays. Caudal fin is rounded in juveniles but truncate to concave in adults. Scales are deeply embedded.
Color of adults is mottled grayish brown, with white speckling and small black spots loosely arranged into rings. Color of juveniles is black to dark brown, with irregular white blotches on head, body, and fins.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from North Carolina to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
Found throughout the Gulf of Mexico, although it is rare there.
Habitat Associations
Between 21 and 250 m depth.
Biology
Maximum known size is 900 mm TL.
Usually on deep ledges, at depths to 210 m and on reefs, usually in caves or deep crevices (Ref. 7251). Solitary (Ref. 26340) and secretive, darts away when approached or frightened (Ref. 9710). Rarely seen in markets. Major threat to this species is fishing pressure (Ref. 089707).
Reproductive mode: protogyny; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2018-04-04. Resilience: Low (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Randall 1968a (as Epinephelus inermis)
Randall 1996
Smith 1971 (as E. inermis)
Smith 1997 (as E. inermis)
Matsuura 1983a
Robins and Ray 1986 (as E. inermis)
Bright and Cashman 1974 (as E. [Dermatolepis] inermis)
Dennis and Bright 1988a (as E.[Dermatolepis] inermis)
Cervigón 1991 (as E. [Dermatolepis] inermis)
Boschung 1992 (as E. inermis)
Heemstra and Randall 1993
Schaldach et al. 1997 (as E. inermis)
Heemstra 2002c
Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall (1993) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):382 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Craig, M.T., YJ. Sadovy de Mitcheson and P.C. Heemstra (2011) Groupers of the world: a field and market guide. North America: CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, xix, 356 p., A47 pages appendix. DOI: 10.1201-/9780429087899
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