Review of the Japanese records of an endangered grouper, Epinephelus tukula, with comments on its population status (Teleostei, Serranidae)

By

Murase, Atsunobu
Miki, Ryohei
Wada, Masaaki
Itou, Masahide
Motomura, Hiroyuki
Senou, Hiroshi

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

772

Pages

153-163

Subjects

Potato Grouper , range , red list , threatened species , voucher

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.772.24374

 

Abstract

The Potato Grouper, Epinephelustukula, is relatively rare worldwide. Records from the northernmost part of its range (Japan) have been few, resulting in a “Critically Endangered” listing on the Red List for Japan. The Japanese records were revised by examining literature, new specimens, photographs, and the internet, and a continuous distribution pattern from the tropical Ryukyu Islands (including adult individuals) to temperate regions affected by the Kuroshio Current were delineated; this suggests the species inhabits tropical Japan and can spread to temperate regions via the warm current. The species possibly reproduces in Japanese waters but further reproductive ecology research is required.