Variola (Serranidae)

Crescent - coral grouper ( Variola louti )

Variola is a genus of groupers ( Epinephelinae ) which consists only of two ways. The two variola species occur in the Red Sea and in Indo-Pacific from South and East Africa to the islands of the central Pacific. You prefer the clear waters around islands and outer reefs at depths of four to 200 meters. The 65-83 inches long expectant predatory fish feed mainly on smaller fish. The larger and more frequent type, variola louti is caught and eaten by humans. However, there is always the risk of ciguatera poisoning.

Features

Variola species have an elongated, cylindrical body. The massive head is about one-third of standard length reach ( distance between opercular and tail fin root ). The mouth is always much longer than the diameter of the eyes. In the front part of both jaws each having a pair of large " dog teeth " sitting in the middle part of the lower jaw is further enlarged teeth are (one to three). Also the palatine bone bears teeth. The shed in the middle of the body are ctenoid scales.

The dorsal fin has removed nine hard and 13 to 15 soft rays, the eleventh or twelfth soft ray long. The anal fin has three hard - and eight soft rays, the pectoral fins have 16 to 19 fin rays and are rounded, the middle fin rays are connected at the longest, the upper by a scaly skin with the body. The first two rays of the ventral fins are extended and reach the beginning of the anal fin. The caudal fin is sickle-shaped.

Species

There are only two very similar species:

• White Sickle coral grouper ( Variola albimarginata Baissac, 1953)
• Crescent - coral grouper ( Variola louti ( Forsskål, 1775) )