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Mycteroperca microlepis is a large grouper that can be found either alone or in groups of 5 to 50 individuals.
Unfortunately, this species is classified as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List, mainly due to intensive hunting of adult fish by commercial fisheries and intraspecific cannibalism among juveniles.
Unfortunately, juvenile groupers are caught in large numbers as bycatch by shrimp fishermen.
The body color of Mycteroperca microlepis depends on the sex and age of the fish.
Juveniles and sexually mature females are light to brownish-gray with dark spots and worm-like markings that give them a marbled appearance.
The tail, anal, and pelvic fins have dark black-blue outer edges.
Inactive individuals sometimes exhibit a camouflage pattern with dark brown “saddles” separated by white stripes directly below the dorsal fin.
Large sexually mature males are light to medium gray in color and have barely visible net structures below the dorsal fin.
The ventral side is darker gray to black in color. The soft dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral fins, and pelvic fins are also dark gray to black, while the edges of the anal and caudal fins are white.
Some perch may have a darker phase in which the rear part of the body, the caudal peduncle, the soft dorsal fin, and the anal fins are black.
The large caudal fin is concave.
The Mycteroperca microlepis has an elongated body, long heads with a large mouth characterized by a protruding lower jaw and two large canines at the front.
Juveniles are found in estuaries and seagrass beds; adults are usually found offshore on rocky bottoms, occasionally near the coast on rocky or grassy bottoms.
Mycteroperca microlepis is the most common grouper on rocky ledges in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Juveniles under 20 cm feed mainly on crustaceans living in shallow seagrass beds.
Mycteroperca microlepis is also a popular sport fish.
Studies have shown that, under certain conditions, fish caught can be released again after capture.
Most importantly, most bass caught at relatively shallow depths were successfully released in good condition if
- they did not need to be de-aerated in order to submerge immediately
- they had no internal injuries from hook penetration
- and no visible injuries to their gills
The known predators of Mycteroperca microlepis include mainly sharks.
Consuming this animal can trigger the dreaded Ciguatera fish poisoning.
The cause is to be found in certain unicellular organisms (dinoflagellates, such as Gambierdiscus toxicus), which produce toxins in the body of harmless and otherwise well-tolerated food fish, which can lead to various symptoms in humans:
Initial symptoms: Sweating, numbness and burning, especially around the mouth.
This is followed later by chills, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and muscle cramps. Paresthesia (itching, tingling, numbness) on the lips, the mucous membrane of the mouth and especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, numbness in the hands, feet and face.
Paralysis of the skeletal muscles, including the respiratory muscles, dizziness and coordination disorders may occur. Muscle pain, joint pain, headache, toothache, shivering and sweating are further symptoms. A general feeling of weakness develops. Consumption of alcohol aggravates the symptoms.
Less common are life-threatening drops in blood pressure and palpitations (tachycardia) or the opposite. Overall, the condition is very rare, but it leads to death in about 7% of cases.
Attention: An antidote does not exist!
First aid:
As early as possible: Pump out the stomach, if vomiting does not occur by itself
Activated carbon (medical carbon) give to bind the toxins: dosage is 1 g / kg body weight.
Promote excretion: As an acute therapy, the attending physician can give an infusion of 20% mannitol (sugar alcohol). The mechanism of action is unclear. Mannitol promotes urine excretion, so this measure should only be taken after fluid and electrolytes have been supplemented to prevent a circulatory collapse.
Rehydration with fluid and electrolytes is a sensible measure anyway, especially after vomiting and diarrhoea.
In life-threatening situations, plasma expanders should be given, i.e. infusions that increase the volume of the blood and remain in the circulation for a long time.
Cardiovascular symptoms may require further medical intervention: Atropine can be given if the heartbeat slows down, dopamine if the blood pressure drops.
You can find more information here:
http://www.dr-bernhard-peter.de/Apotheke/seite116.htm
The genus name “Mycteroperca” is derived from the Greek “mykter, -eros” for nose and “perke” for perch.
The species name “microlepis” is derived from the Greek ‘micro’ for small and “lepis” for scale and refers to the small scales that cover the body of this fish.
Synonyms:
Mycteroperca microlepsis (Goode & Bean, 1879) · unaccepted
Trisotropis microlepis Goode & Bean, 1879 · unaccepted
Unfortunately, this species is classified as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List, mainly due to intensive hunting of adult fish by commercial fisheries and intraspecific cannibalism among juveniles.
Unfortunately, juvenile groupers are caught in large numbers as bycatch by shrimp fishermen.
The body color of Mycteroperca microlepis depends on the sex and age of the fish.
Juveniles and sexually mature females are light to brownish-gray with dark spots and worm-like markings that give them a marbled appearance.
The tail, anal, and pelvic fins have dark black-blue outer edges.
Inactive individuals sometimes exhibit a camouflage pattern with dark brown “saddles” separated by white stripes directly below the dorsal fin.
Large sexually mature males are light to medium gray in color and have barely visible net structures below the dorsal fin.
The ventral side is darker gray to black in color. The soft dorsal fin, caudal fin, pectoral fins, and pelvic fins are also dark gray to black, while the edges of the anal and caudal fins are white.
Some perch may have a darker phase in which the rear part of the body, the caudal peduncle, the soft dorsal fin, and the anal fins are black.
The large caudal fin is concave.
The Mycteroperca microlepis has an elongated body, long heads with a large mouth characterized by a protruding lower jaw and two large canines at the front.
Juveniles are found in estuaries and seagrass beds; adults are usually found offshore on rocky bottoms, occasionally near the coast on rocky or grassy bottoms.
Mycteroperca microlepis is the most common grouper on rocky ledges in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Juveniles under 20 cm feed mainly on crustaceans living in shallow seagrass beds.
Mycteroperca microlepis is also a popular sport fish.
Studies have shown that, under certain conditions, fish caught can be released again after capture.
Most importantly, most bass caught at relatively shallow depths were successfully released in good condition if
- they did not need to be de-aerated in order to submerge immediately
- they had no internal injuries from hook penetration
- and no visible injuries to their gills
The known predators of Mycteroperca microlepis include mainly sharks.
Consuming this animal can trigger the dreaded Ciguatera fish poisoning.
The cause is to be found in certain unicellular organisms (dinoflagellates, such as Gambierdiscus toxicus), which produce toxins in the body of harmless and otherwise well-tolerated food fish, which can lead to various symptoms in humans:
Initial symptoms: Sweating, numbness and burning, especially around the mouth.
This is followed later by chills, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and muscle cramps. Paresthesia (itching, tingling, numbness) on the lips, the mucous membrane of the mouth and especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, numbness in the hands, feet and face.
Paralysis of the skeletal muscles, including the respiratory muscles, dizziness and coordination disorders may occur. Muscle pain, joint pain, headache, toothache, shivering and sweating are further symptoms. A general feeling of weakness develops. Consumption of alcohol aggravates the symptoms.
Less common are life-threatening drops in blood pressure and palpitations (tachycardia) or the opposite. Overall, the condition is very rare, but it leads to death in about 7% of cases.
Attention: An antidote does not exist!
First aid:
As early as possible: Pump out the stomach, if vomiting does not occur by itself
Activated carbon (medical carbon) give to bind the toxins: dosage is 1 g / kg body weight.
Promote excretion: As an acute therapy, the attending physician can give an infusion of 20% mannitol (sugar alcohol). The mechanism of action is unclear. Mannitol promotes urine excretion, so this measure should only be taken after fluid and electrolytes have been supplemented to prevent a circulatory collapse.
Rehydration with fluid and electrolytes is a sensible measure anyway, especially after vomiting and diarrhoea.
In life-threatening situations, plasma expanders should be given, i.e. infusions that increase the volume of the blood and remain in the circulation for a long time.
Cardiovascular symptoms may require further medical intervention: Atropine can be given if the heartbeat slows down, dopamine if the blood pressure drops.
You can find more information here:
http://www.dr-bernhard-peter.de/Apotheke/seite116.htm
The genus name “Mycteroperca” is derived from the Greek “mykter, -eros” for nose and “perke” for perch.
The species name “microlepis” is derived from the Greek ‘micro’ for small and “lepis” for scale and refers to the small scales that cover the body of this fish.
Synonyms:
Mycteroperca microlepsis (Goode & Bean, 1879) · unaccepted
Trisotropis microlepis Goode & Bean, 1879 · unaccepted
