Worth knowing about the Alpino Grouper
The Alpino Grouper belongs to the realm of the ‘Animalia’ (animals), more specifically to the tribe of the ‘Chordata’ (Chorda animals). This fish is a ray-finned (Actinopterygii) in the order of the ‘Perciformes’. So their family is the bass (or sea bass) with the name ‘Serranidae’.
Groupers have 2 types of genera: ‘Epinephelus’ and ‘Mycteropcera’. The alpino grouper belongs to the genus ‘Epinephelus’.
In 1775, the blacktip grouper was described as ‘Perca fasciata’, by the Finnish explorer Peter Forsskål (1732-1763). In 1793 the name was changed to ‘Epinephelus fasciatus’ by the German naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799).
International names – countries A-I
- Albania: Kern i arte, Kerni i artë
- Algeria: Abadèche, Badécha, Badèche, Bayajo
- Angola: Cherne, Garoupa, Garoupa amarela, Mero, Mero amarelo
- Australia: Black-tipped rock cod, Blacktip grouper, Blacktip rock cod, Blacktipped cod, Footballer cod, Red-barred cod, Red-barred rock cod, Redbanded grouper, Rockcod, Scarlet rock-cod, Weathered rock-cod
- Cambodia: Blacktip grouper
- China: 石斑, 縱紋石斑魚, 赤石斑鱼, 鲙
- Christmas I.: Blactipped cod
- Comoros: Mbwe, M’Voue
- Denmark: Gylden Havaborre
- Djibouti: Red banded grouper, Mérou oriflamime
- Egypt: Wakar
- Estonia: Punavööt-kivikoha
- Fiji: Senicauca ni nubu
- France: Badèche, Mérou badèche, Mérou oriflamime, Rougette, Vieille rouge
- French Polynesia: Ako mea, Loche écarlate, Mérou six raies, Rari, Tarao Matapuu
- Germany: Baskenmützen-Zackenbarsch
- Global: Blacktip grouper, Redbanded grouper, لُؤز أسود الرَّأس
- Greece: Stira, Στήρα, Σφυρίδα, Σφυριδίτσα, Σφυριδοπούλα
- Guinea-Bissau: Garoupa castanha, Garoupa-castanha
- India: ചമ്മം, ചാമ്മാം, तेदा, Red banned grouper, Chammam, Ryfana, Teda
- Indonesia: Geurape sendok, Geurape bungong kala, Kerapu bara, Kerapu sendok, Kiapu matekuli, Banded rock cod, Blacktip grouper, Okke
- Israel: Lokos
- Italy: Cernia dorata, Jatta, Lupessa ‘e funnali, Precchia di mari ‘mperiali, Smirdo, Tenca
International names – countries J-P
- Japan: Akahata
- Jordan: Daghma
- Kiribati: Te ngatala, Te nimako
- Korea (South): 홍바리
- Madagascar: Alovo, Tarataka
- Malaysia: Black-tipped cod, Blacktip grouper, Grouper, Kerapu, Kerapu bara, Kerapu karang, Kerapu Merah, Kerapu sirip hitam, Red-banded grouper, Reef cod, Seabass, Senderong
- Maldives: Akahata, Baskenmutzenbarsch, Blacktip grouper, Mérou à capuchon, Mérou oriflamime, Raiy galhi faana
- Malta: Dott, Stone bass
- Mauritius: Goujon, Loche rouge, Rock cod, Vieille rouge
- Micronesia: Metail, Black-tipped grouper, Blacktip grouper
- Montenegro: Kirnja ligaca
- Mozambique: Garoupa bandeireira
- New Caledonia: Bwaloi, Grisette, Jin ce-gen, Jin-yaak, Kué, Kuëë bwii, Loche rouge, Pwaatraa, Sorte de loche
- Niue: Black-tipped grouper, Talaao
- North Marianas: Matait, Metáyin, Metel, Seabass, Yawanap
- Oman: Hamour
- Palau: Temekai
- Papua New Guinea: Black-tipped rock-cod
- Philippines: Abo-abo, Alatan, Bantol, Baraka, Barangbang, Bato-bato, Batol, Black-tipped rockcod, Blacktip grouper, Buklak, Bulang, Iner, Inid, Jahong, Kakab, Kaltang, Kigting, Kugtong, Kugtung, Kulapo, Kurapo, Kurapu, Labungan, Lapu-lapu, Lapu-lapung lupot, Lilug, Lubo, Mahang, Mamonbong, Mantis, Maskad, Matkad, Ogaw, Pugapo, Pugayo, Rana, Salingukod, Sibog, Sigapo, Sono, Subla, Tabadlo, Tabuldlo, Taga-rinas na baraka’, Tamudlo, Tangk-an, Tangkaan, Ting-ad, Tingag, Uwak-uwak
- Poland: Granik obrzezek
- Portugal: Garoupa amarela, Garoupa-amarela, Garoupa-badejo, Mero-amarelo, Nero-amarelo
International names – countries R-V
- Réunion: Mérou oriflamime, Rouge de côte, Rougette
- Samoa: Fausi
- Saudi Arabia: Hamoor, Kushar
- Senegal: Doï, Doy, Ndoy
- Serbia: Kirnja ligaca
- Seychelles: Madanm dilo, Vieille rouge, Vye rouz
- Singapore: Lu gu hou
- Somalia: Wayeer
- South Africa: Rooibalk-klipkabeljou, Redbarred rockcod
- Spain: Falso abadejo, Jabali, Mero banderillo, Mero ratllat
- Sweden: Gildgrouper
- Syria: Blacktip grouper, Lokkos Sakhri
- Tahiti: Mata pu’u, Tarao matapuu
- Taiwan: 赤石斑魚
- Timor-Leste: Black tipped cod, Garopo kinu aka makerek, Kau kolikoli, La kerekere
- Tunisia: Mennani
- Turkey: Orfoz balığı, Taşhanisi, Taşhanisi balığı
- UK: Banded reef cod, Golden grouper, Striped grouper
- USA: Blacktip grouper
- Viet Nam: Black-tipped grouper, Blacktip grouper, Cá Song sọc đen, Cá Song sọc ngang đen
Specific Feature (Alpino Grouper)
- Sometimes this fish is confused with the ‘coral climber’.
- the animal is a maximum of 40 cm long with an average weight of 2 kg. The average length is 22 cm.
- their color varies from brown to orange, with most species having 5 or 6 dark bars on their bodies
Related types
Among the groupers, there are also other genera, such as:
- ‘Itajara’: occurs mainly in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, more specifically in the southwest.
- ‘Nassau Grouper’: occurs mainly in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
- ‘Spotted Giant Grouper’: this fish lives mainly in Australian waters.
- ‘Garrupa Nigrita’: resides on the Gulf Coast of the United States and the South Atlantic Sea. (Cuba, Brazil, …)
- ‘Sea Bass’: occurs almost all over the world…
Photos of various groupers
Where can you find the Alpino Grouper?
This fish species can be found in the continents of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. They occur in brackish water such as lagoons, brackish seas, and estuaries.
In deep water, they live at a depth of more than 15 meters (even up to 160 meters deep) but they can also be found in lagoons or protected coves that are shallow (up to 4 meters). The Alpino Grouper likes to be on hard, rocky ground, especially in the coral reefs where they feel at home.
The wrecks, caves, and crevices are also favorite places to stay because they can hide well there.
The largest population of Alpino groupers is in Western Australia (Shark Bay).
Their nutrition
Depending on region to region, they feed on crabs, bony fish, shrimp, crustaceans, lobsters, stomatopods, ophiuroids, zoobenthos, mollusks, and octopi. These fish mainly prey on macrofauna (predators).
Usually, this fish lies somewhere motionless waiting for any prey. If they can then outwit one, they suck the victim in whole, without even biting it.
How do these animals mate?
These fish are all born as hermaphrodites, starting as a female. Only when they get bigger and weigh more does the body switch to a male function, and then they can reproduce.
Fertilization takes place externally.
Alpino Grouper in the human diet
Due to the overfishing of the countries around the Mediterranean, this fish species is rarely found in the kitchen.
The Alpino Grouper is a very healthy fish and contains minerals, vitamins, and omega 3 fatty acids.
The fish can be baked, broiled, or fried. The flesh of this fish is firm in texture.
Enemies of the Alpino Grouper
Since this fish can grow quite large, they don’t have many enemies. Their biggest enemy is the shark.
Endangered Species?
As I mentioned above, these groupers are greatly reduced in population. That is why the fish species is endangered and is no longer allowed to be fished.
Finally
This is where I come to the end of this article. I hope you found it interesting and of course, any questions, additional information, comments, ambiguities, or untruths can always be left behind. Thanks in advance!