Cephalopholis igarashiensis

Cephalopholis igarashiensis, known as the garish hind, Neptune grouper, goldbar grouper, or Japanese cod, is a deepwater species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found on coral reefs at depths of 80 to 250 m (260 to 820 ft) in the Indo-Pacific.

Cephalopholis igarashiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Genus: Cephalopholis
Species:
C. igarashiensis
Binomial name
Cephalopholis igarashiensis
Katayama, 1957
Synonyms[2]

Cephalopholis swanius Tsai, 1960

Description

Cephalopholis igarashiensis has a deep body with the depth of the body being greater than the length of the head, the standard length is 2.0 to 2.4 times the depth of the body. The dorsal profile of the head is straight or marginally concave to beyond the eye while the nape is distinctly convex. The preopercleis rounded and the edges have fine serrations although those on the ventral margin are slightly less fine giving it a more irregular appearance but the serration remain enclosed within the skin.[3] The dorsal fin contains 9 spines and 14 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 9 soft rays.[2] The caudal fin rounded. The overall colour of this species is reddish-orange and it has seven wide, lemon-yellow bars on the upper flanks which reach onto the dorsal fin, and three wide yellow irregular oblique stripes on the head. The juveniles are yellower, darkening on the lower body, and they have several white bars on the body and a large black eyespot on the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. They also have blackish pelvic fins, and a black area at the base of the anal fin.[4] This species attains a maximum standard length of 43 centimetres (17 in)>,[2] but a more common length is 25 cm (10 in).

Distribution

Cephalopholis igarashiensis is found mainly in the Western Pacific Ocean where it is found as far north as Japan, east to Fiji and French Polynesia and south to Australia.[1] In Australia it has been reported from Scott Reef in Western Australia, east to the Arafura Sea off the Northern Territory. It is also found around Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.[4]

Habitat and biology

Cephalopholis igarashiensis is a demersal species of steep reef drop-offs, seamounts and offshore banks in deep waters at depths of 64 to 250 metres (210 to 820 ft).[1] It feeds on fishes and crustaceans.[2]

Taxonomy

Cephalopholis igarashiensis was first formally described in 1957 by the Japanese ichthyologist Masao Katayama with the type locality given as Sumisu-tu in the Izu Islands of Japan.[5]

Utilisation

The flamboyant red and yellow patterns of this species makes it an attractive species to keep in aquaria, however, the garish hind is naturally rare[2] and it is extremely hard to take it up to the surface because the fish cannot adapt to the changing water pressure; so special decompression procedures are required to keep the fish alive.[6] Consequently, this species is extremely expensive; a juvenile in Singapore sold for $8000 SGD($ 6300 USD).[7]

This species is targeted in subsistence fisheries and as a gamefish.[2] Fishermen in Okinawa call it the Indian Mibai because of its flamboyant patterns.[8] Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan became the first aquarium to display this species in January 2009.[8]

References
  1. Rhodes, K.; Samoilys, M.; Choat, J.H.; et al. (2018). "Cephalopholis igarashiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T132791A100455099. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132791A100455099.en. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Cephalopholis igarashiensis" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. Heemstra, P.C. & 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 (PDF). FAO Fish. Synopsis. 125 (16). FAO, Rome. pp. 46–47. ISBN 92-5-103125-8.
  4. Bray, D.J. (2016). "Cephalopholis igarashiensis". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Cephalopholis igarashiensis". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. "Neptune Grouper, Cephalopholis igarashiensis, House of Fins, $6K". Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  7. "Juvenile Neptune Grouper shows up in Singapore, retailing for a hefty price". Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  8. "Garish hind Neptune grouper". Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-08-25.
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