RESEARCH ARTICLE

Checklist of serranid and epinephelid fishes (Perciformes: Serranidae & Epinephelidae) of India

K.V. Akhilesh, P.T. Rajan, N. Vineesh, K.K. Idreesbabu, K.K. Bineesh, M. Muktha, C. Anulekshmi, H. Manjebrayakath, Y. Gladston & M. Nashad

Abstract

We provide an updated checklist of fishes of the families Serranidae and Epinephelidae reported or listed from India, along with photographs. A total of 120 fishes in this group are listed as occurring in India based on published literature, of which 25 require further confirmation and validation. We confirm here the presence of at least 95 species in 22 genera occurring in Indian marine waters. The majority of the species belong to the grouper genus Epinephelus (41%), followed by Pseudanthias (15%) and Cephalopholis (13%). Most species (92%) found in India have been assessed globally either as Data Deficient (DD) or Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Since information on groupers from India is limited, there is an urgent need to document the diversity, ecology, life history, population status, and fisheries status of this group of fishes from the country.

CITATION:

Akhilesh, K.V., Rajan, P.T., Vineesh, N., Idreesbabu, K.K., Bineesh, K.K., Muktha, M., Anulekshmi, C., Manjebrayakath, H., Gladston, Y. & Nashad, M. (2021) Checklist of serranid and epinephelid fishes (Perciformes: Serranidae & Epinephelidae) of India. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 38, 35-65.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5151903

publication date: 1 August 2021