Mycteroperca rubra (Bloch 1793) —Mottled grouper

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Mycteroperca rubra (Bloch 1793) by George et al. (1964: 17); subsequently recorded as Mycteroperca rubra (Bloch) by Mouneimné (1977: 62); as Mycteroperca rubra (Bloch 1793) by Mouneimné (2002: 134–135); recently recorded as Mycteroperca rubra by Harmelin-Vivien et al. (2005: 629); as Mycteroperca rubra by Fanelli et al. (2015: 2169); and Aguillar et al. (2018: 82). Material in collection: ANSP, AUBM, BMNH and USNM.

Distribution. Mediterranean Sea, eastern Atlantic: Portugal to southern Angola.

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 22 November 2016); Med. (LC: 1 January 2008). Capture and threats: FIT, Unknown. Occurrence: Common. Significant decline in the last two decades. Medium priority for conservation action .