Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe 1834) —Dusky grouper

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Epinephelus gigas, L. by Gruvel (1931:101); subsequently recorded as Epinephelus guaza (Linnaeus 1758) by George et al. (1964: 17); as Epinephelus guaza (Linnaeus) by Mouneimné (1977: 62); as Epinephelus guaza (Linnaeus 1758) by Mouneimné (2002: 133); recently recorded as Epinephelus marginatus by Harmelin-Vivien et al. (2005: 629); as Epinephelus marginatus by Fanelli et al. (2015: 2169); as Epinephelus marginatus by Aguillar et al. (2018: 81). Material in collection: AUBM, BMNH (as E. guaza) and USNM.

Distribution. Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, eastern Atlantic: British Isles south to Angola, including offshore islands; western Atlantic: Brazil south to Argentina; Western Indian Ocean: South Africa to southern Mozambique; Réunion; Oman.

Conservation. IUCN: Global (VU: A2bd+4bd, 20 November 2016); Med. (EN: A2 d, 30 April 2004). Capture and threats: FIT, NIS, Unknown. Occurrence: Common. Significant decline in the last two decades. High priority for conservation action .