Serranidaes
The serranidae family has more than 150 species, such as grouper, whiting and grouper. They occur in coastal, tropical and temperate waters, in all oceans. The species present here in the tank, Epinephelus marginatus, was included in the endangered species list and categorized as VULNERABLE by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
Represented by groupers, this group of fish can be found in tropical waters along the entire Brazilian coast. It is a species that has high commercial value and is threatened with extinction due to the destruction of its habitat and overfishing. The blue grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) as it is popularly known, is a reef fish with wide geographic distribution and recognized ecological importance as a top predator in reef environments and socioeconomically as a target species in directed fisheries. The species can reach up to 1.5 m in total length and around 60 kg. They are considered protogynous hermaphrodites, that is, they are part of the select group of fish that are born female and become male upon reaching a certain size or critical age. They have a high longevity, reaching up to 60 years of age and can reach up to 45% of their total length in the first 5 years of life, having a relatively rapid development in this period of life. The grouper is a typically reef fish found associated with hard substrates such as rocky shores, using holes, crevices and the interior of natural slabs as burrows, which may or may not be temporary. As they are territorial and sedentary animals, they have a high fidelity to burrows and a small area of coverage, especially when they are adults.
Sting ray - Dasyatis hipostigma
It can be found in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, in shallow coastal waters of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, living along the sandy bottom feeding on small molluscs and crustaceans. They can reach a maximum size of 65 centimeters, their longevity is unknown. They are viviparous animals, that is, the embryo develops inside the uterus, with females giving birth to up to two offspring per pregnancy. They are some of the most unintentionally captured rays by artisanal fishermen and commercial fishing with fishing nets. This species is extremely subject to dangers caused by habitat degradation, as well as the excessive development of human infrastructure in coastal regions, which end up culminating in the destruction of most mangroves. The present and growing pollution in the water also represents a serious danger to species.
Dusky grouper - Epinephelus marginatus
It is a marine fish with benthic habits, which lives associated with rocky reefs and caves, usually at depths between 10 and 50 meters. It is found in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It can reach up to 150 centimeters in length and reach up to 60 kg. They are animals that have a long life expectancy, with a maximum reported age of 50 years. They feed on molluscs, crustaceans and small fish. Adults are solitary and territorial, forming shoals during breeding seasons. They are protogynous hermaphrodites, that is, the female sexual organs are the first to develop and become mature, when the animal is close to 5 years of age. Approximately 10 years later, the male sex organs mature and become active.