First evidence of color change from normal color to xanthism pattern in leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea, in captivity

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Abstract

This study reports the first occurrence of xanthism in captive juveniles of the leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea, a species of high ecological and commercial value in the Gulf of California. One hundred fifty individuals (mean ± standard deviation: 106.1 ± 36.7 g; 19.5 ± 2.3 cm) were reared from eggs obtained at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR, La Paz, Mexico) between March and October 2009. Changes in body coloration from the normal brown pattern to a yellow (xanthic) phenotype were observed on five separate occasions during this period. The transition began in the dorsal and ventral regions and extended to the flanks and caudal fin, eventually covering the entire body surface. These findings provide the first documentation of xanthic pigmentation in M. rosacea under controlled aquaculture conditions and highlight the potential influence of genetic, environmental, and dietary factors on colour expression in this species.

Omont, A., Spanopoulos-Zarco, M., & Gracia-López, V. (2026). First evidence of color change from normal color to xanthism pattern in leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea, in captivity. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 54(1), 62-68. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue1-fulltext-3411

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