Hyporthodus septemfasciatus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	EPINEPHELIDAE

Scientific Name:

Hyporthodus septemfasciatus

Species Authority:

Thunberg, 1793

Common Name/s:

English	–	Convict Grouper, Convict Rockcod, Sevenband Grouper
French	–	Merou Bagnard
Spanish	–	Mero Carcelario

Synonym/s:

Epinephelus compressus (non Postel, Fourmanoir & Gueze, 1964)

Epinephelus octofasciatus (non Griffin, 1926)

Epinephelus septemfasciatus

Hyporthodus septemfasciatus Thunberg, 1793

Perca 7-fasciata Thunberg, 1793

Perca septemfasciata Thunberg, 1793

Perca septemfasciatus Thunberg, 1793

Plectropoma susuki Cuvier, 1828

Serranus octocinctus Temminck & Schlegel, 1842

Taxonomic Notes:

A recent publication changed the generic name of this species from Epinephelus to Hyporthodus (Craig and Hastings 2007) and a change of family name to Epinephelidae (Smith and Craig 2007).

This species has been widely confused with the closely related species Hyporthodus octofasciatus, and all specimens recorded from outside (and some from within) the above indicated range seem to be misidentifications of the latter species, probably inclusive of those specimens recorded from deepwater seamounts. These misidentifications include all catch records from Western Australia, and elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. The significant differences between the two species are outlined in the account for H. septemfasciatus in Heemstra and Randall (1993), though the overall confusion of the two species seems to arise because H. septemfasciatus generally has eight distinct dark vertical bars, and H. octofasciatus generally has seven. Juveniles of the other closely related species, H. ergastularius, are also similar to and can be confused with H. septemfasciatus (Heemstra and Randall 1993).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2008
Assessor/s:	Pollard, D. & Liu, M.
Reviewer/s:	Sadovy, Y. & Moss, K. (Grouper and Wrasse Red List Authority)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is assessed as being of Least Concern as, although it has apparently been heavily exploited within parts of its relatively restricted north-eastern Asian range in the past, it is currently being bred in captivity for aquaculture purposes, and also for release back into the sea to enhance wild populations in this area (Anon 2003). However due to the apparently heavy exploitation, monitoring of catches of this species should be ongoing.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	General Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is a Northwest Pacific species known with certainty only from Japan, Korea, and China. Reports from other areas appear to be based on misidentifications of Hyporthodus octofasciatus. Specific Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan. Reports from other areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans (primarily to the south) appear to be based on misidentifications of H. octofasciatus (Heemstra and Randall 1993). The geographic range of this species is restricted to only subtropical to warm temperate (~24 to ~40° N) north-eastern Asian waters (around Japan, Korea and China), and all other records (including fisheries catch records) from other areas of the Indo-Pacific region apparently refer to H. octofasciatus. Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is, however, cultivated for aquaculture purposes outside this range (e.g., in Italy).
Countries:	Native: China; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea, Republic of; Taiwan, Province of China
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – northwest; Pacific – western central
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population status of Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is unknown, but wild populations have reputedly been depleted to some extent by fishing in some parts of its range.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	General Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is a reef-associated, non-migratory species that occurs near shore, including semi-enclosed sea areas in rocky reefs in shallow waters. The species is commercially cultured in Japan and, apparently, in Italy. Specimens recorded from deepwater seamounts (down to ~360 m) are probably H. octofasciatus, which is known to be a deepwater species. The maximum recorded size of the species is ~155 cm and ~63 kg. Reproduction Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is a protogynous hermaphrodite, and has been bred and raised in captivity (Kitajima et al. 1991, Anon 2003). There are numerous references in the scientific literature to its reproduction, diseases and parasites, etc. in relation to its aquaculture potential. Feeding It is a macrofaunal predator, feeding on small fishes and crustaceans.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

General
Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is a reef-associated, non-migratory species that occurs near shore, including semi-enclosed sea areas in rocky reefs in shallow waters. The species is commercially cultured in Japan and, apparently, in Italy. Specimens recorded from deepwater seamounts (down to ~360 m) are probably H. octofasciatus, which is known to be a deepwater species. The maximum recorded size of the species is ~155 cm and ~63 kg.

Reproduction
Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is a protogynous hermaphrodite, and has been bred and raised in captivity (Kitajima et al. 1991, Anon 2003). There are numerous references in the scientific literature to its reproduction, diseases and parasites, etc. in relation to its aquaculture potential.

Feeding
It is a macrofaunal predator, feeding on small fishes and crustaceans.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	No specific threats to Hyporthodus septemfasciatus have been reported, although it has reputedly been heavily exploited throughout large parts of its range. The fact that it is now being bred in captivity and released back into the wild is encouraging in this regard (Anon 2003). This species is of some commercial fisheries importance in Japan, and probably also in Korea and China (Heemstra and Randall, 1993). Much interest has been shown in it more recently, in Japan and elsewhere, as an aquaculture species (e.g., Moon et al. 1999).

Major Threat(s):

No specific threats to Hyporthodus septemfasciatus have been reported, although it has reputedly been heavily exploited throughout large parts of its range. The fact that it is now being bred in captivity and released back into the wild is encouraging in this regard (Anon 2003).

This species is of some commercial fisheries importance in Japan, and probably also in Korea and China (Heemstra and Randall, 1993). Much interest has been shown in it more recently, in Japan and elsewhere, as an aquaculture species (e.g., Moon et al. 1999).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is now being bred and released back into the wild for stock enhancement purposes in Japan (Anon 2003). It may also be protected in some marine protected areas in various places within its range.

Conservation Actions:

Hyporthodus septemfasciatus is now being bred and released back into the wild for stock enhancement purposes in Japan (Anon 2003). It may also be protected in some marine protected areas in various places within its range.

Citation:	Pollard, D. & Liu, M. 2008. Hyporthodus septemfasciatus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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