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Biometric and electrophoretic studies of grouper species (family: serranidae) from the middle
east coast of India

1
1 T Prince Rufus, KVL Shrikanya Rao*

1 Department of Biotechnology, Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore-524 324, AP, India.

* Corresponding author: shrikanya.rao@gmail.com

Abstract:

Groupers are top predators; strongly territorial typically long-lived and slow-growing fish are
considered high-value marine species in tropical and subtropical countries and prefer live fish in
South East Asian countries. These characteristics contribute to over-exploitation and are endangered
by trawling. Visakhapatnam coast (Lat 17º44’N, Long 83 º 23’E), situated on the central east coast of
India, known for its rocky habitats and associated fish species has been the base of traditional fishing
for a long time. There has been a tremendous development of fisheries in this region in the past few
decades in the extended operation of trawl nets deeper into the sea. Identification of the grouper
species based on colour, morphological characteristics shows intraspecific variation in juveniles and
adults of same species. Therefore, in the present study, the combined utility of meristic, morphometric
and genetic variation using SDS-PAGE in the muscle tissue has been carried out. Specimens were
collected from both artisanal and trawl catches. Based on similar morphological characters, species
were divided into two groups: Epinephelus I group includes closely related species coioides (189-
1016 mmTL), malabaricus (295-1530 mmTL), tauvina (185-585 mmTL) and Epinephelus II group
represents the closely related species angularis (160-353 mmTL), bleekeri (365-495 mmTL),
chlorostigma (450-730 mmTL), longispinis (239-315 mmTL). The electrophoretic pattern in
Epinephelus I group shows 12 unique bands ranging from 17-99 KDa in coioides, 11 unique bands
ranging from 15-96 KDa in malabaricus, 8 unique bands ranging from 24-94 KDa in tauvina and in
Epinephelus II group shows 3 unique bands ranging from 39-88 KDa in angularis, 8 unique bands
each in bleekeri ranging from 19-95 KDa, chlorostigma ranging from 15-78 KDa and 5 unique bands
ranging from 24-90KDa in longispinis. Understanding the present genetic makeup of wild grouper
populations has a significant practical value in the fishery management and conservation of stocks.

Keywords: Groupers, Epinephelus species, Morphometry, SDS-PAGE, Genetic analysis