An Inconvenient Monophyly: An Update on the Taxonomy of the Groupers (Epinephelidae) Author Ma, Ka Yan Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, 999077, Hong Kong SAR. Author Craig, Matthew T. 2 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037 matthew.craig@noaa.gov. text Copeia 2018 2018-10-31 106 3 443 456 http://dx.doi.org/10.1643/ci-18-055 journal article 298900 10.1643/ci-18-055 4919bfd6-3d35-48b9-9421-c852fa35abab 12536069 Plectropomus and Its Allies. —The genus Plectropomus was recovered as monophyletic; however, both the monotypic Gonioplectrus and Saloptia are included in a larger monophyletic clade. All three genera share a relatively low dorsal-fin spine count (7–8 vs. 9–11 in the remaining grouper genera). Smith (1964), Leis (1986), and Heemstra and Randall (1993) hypothesized a close relationship between Saloptia and Plectropomus . Species in these genera are the only groupers with a single supraneural bone, low dorsal-fin spine count, three large antrorse spines on the lower edge of the preopercle, and only 13 branched caudal-fin rays. Saloptia has been treated as a monotypic genus on the basis of the relative strength of the median fin spines (‘‘strong’’ in Saloptia and ‘‘weak’’ in Plectropomus ; Heemstra and Randall, 1993) and an absence of enlarged canine teeth on the lower jaw. Given the numerous synapomorphies shared by these genera, the argument for retaining S. powelli in a monotypic genus is relatively weak. The loss of canine teeth appears to be an autapomorphic character and is insufficient to exclude the species from Plectropomus . FIG. 7. Epinephelus altivelis juvenile (top) and adult (bottom). Photographs © Robert Myers. The monotypic genus Gonioplectrus is also present in this clade (clade A, Figs. 1 , 2 ). This is not entirely surprising as it shares the low number of dorsal-fin spines (8) with species of Plectropomus . Gonioplectrus has two well-developed supraneurals (versus only one in Plectropomus and Saloptia ), 15 branched caudal-fin rays (versus 13 in Plectropomus and Saloptia ), a prominent knob on the lower corner of the maxilla (absent in Cephalopholis , Plectropomus , and Saloptia ) and unique cranial morphology (Heemstra and Randall, 1993). Given these differences, Gonioplectrus appears to be a related, but distinct genus and is retained for the single species G. hispanus . Also included in the monophyletic clade A ( Fig. 1 ) are members of the genus Variola . With nine dorsal-fin spines, this genus would seem to be closely related to Cephalopholis ; however, it is clear from the analyses that this is not the case. Species of Variola are the only grouper species with a pronounced, lunate tail. While closely allied with Plectropomus and Gonioplectrus , the genus Variola appears to be a distinct group among the groupers with low dorsal-fin spine counts and is therefore retained.