New record of Epinephelus bontoides (Perciformes: Serranidae) from Honshu, Japan

Abstract

The Palemargin Grouper Epinephelus bontoides (Bleeker, 1855), previously recorded in Japan from Tanegashima, Yakushima, Kuchinoerabu, Amami-Oshima Island, and the west coast of Satsuma Peninsula, is newly reported from the southern part of Mie Prefecture, Honshu on the basis of a single specimen, which represents the northernmost record of the species as well as the first record from the main island of Japan. Possibly having been passively transported by the Kuroshio Current during its planktonic stage, the present specimen may have successfully overwintered due to heightened sea surface temperatures caused by the meandering current.