Epinephelus rankini Whitley, 1945, a valid species of grouper (Teleostei, Perciformes, Epinephelidae) from Western Australia and southeast Indonesia
Citation
Cao X (2022). Epinephelus rankini Whitley, 1945, a valid species of grouper (Teleostei, Perciformes, Epinephelidae) from Western Australia and southeast Indonesia. Biodiversity Data Journal. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.10.e90472 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-10-04.Description
The grouper Epinephelus rankini, described from the waters off Western Australia, has long been regarded as a junior synonym of Epinephelus multinotatus. However, the two species are discernible as distinct species on the basis of their morphological characteristics and genetic differences by the holotype material and non-type of specimens.In this study, Epinephelus rankini is considered as a valid species and re-described based on the examination of the holotype and additional specimens. Epinephelus rankini can be distinguished from the closely-related species E. multinotatus by the following combination of characters: body dark greyish-brown to chocolate with irregular white blotches (vs. body pale brownish-grey with irregular and small white blotches in E. multinotatus), absence of small dark brown spots (vs. numerous small dark brown spots in E. multinotatus). Furthermore, genetic differences between the two species strongly support the validity of both species based on molecular analysis (mtDNA, COI gene). In addition based on the sampling range, E. rankini was observed range from the Abrolhos Islands of Western Australia to south-eastern Indonesia, while E. multinotatus ranges from the Persian Gulf to southern Mozambique.Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
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Xiaoying Caooriginator
position: Mrs
Xiamen Key Laboratory of Urban Sea Ecological Conservation and Restoration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University
Xiamen
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email: 1322918309@qq.com
Xiaoying Cao
metadata author
position: Mrs
Xiamen Key Laboratory of Urban Sea Ecological Conservation and Restoration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University
Xiamen
CN
email: 1322918309@qq.com
Xiaoying Cao
administrative point of contact
position: Mrs
Xiamen Key Laboratory of Urban Sea Ecological Conservation and Restoration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University
Xiamen
CN
email: 1322918309@qq.com