Editing Serranidae (section)

==Characteristics==

Many serranid species are brightly colored, and many of the larger species are caught commercially for food. They are usually found over [[reef]]s, in [[tropical]] to subtropical waters along the coasts. Serranids are generally robust in form, with large mouths and small spines on the gill coverings. They typically have several rows of sharp teeth, usually with a pair of particularly large, [[canine (tooth)|canine]]-like teeth projecting from the lower jaw.<ref name=EoF>{{cite book |editor=Paxton, J.R. |editor2=Eschmeyer, W.N.|author= Randall, John E.|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Fishes|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 195–199|isbn= 0-12-547665-5}}</ref>

All serranids are carnivorous. Although some species, especially in the Anthiadinae subfamily, only feed on [[zooplankton]], the majority feed on fish and crustaceans. They are typically ambush predators, hiding in cover on the reef and darting out to grab passing prey. Their bright colours are most likely a form of disruptive camouflage, similar to the stripes of a [[tiger]].<ref name=EoF/>

Many species are [[protogynous]] [[hermaphrodite]]s, meaning they start out as females and change sex to male later in life.<ref name=EoF/> They produce large quantities of eggs and their larvae are [[planktonic]], generally at the mercy of ocean currents until they are ready to settle into adult populations.

Like other fish, serranids harbour [[parasite]]s, including [[nematode]]s, [[cestode]]s, [[digenea]]ns,<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Cribb | first1 = T. H. | last2 = Bray | first2 = R. A. | last3 = Wright | first3 = T. | last4 = Pichelin | first4 = S. | year = 2002 | title = The trematodes of groupers (Serranidae: Epinephelinae): knowledge, nature and evolution | journal = Parasitology | volume = 124 | issue = 7 | pages = S23–S42 | doi=10.1017/s0031182002001671| pmid = 12396214 | s2cid = 12287737 }}</ref> [[monogenea]]ns, [[isopod]]s, and [[copepod]]s. A study conducted in [[New Caledonia]] has shown that [[coral reef]]-associated serranids harbour about 10 species of parasites per fish species.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Justine | first1 = J.-L. | last2 = Beveridge | first2 = I. | last3 = Boxshall | first3 = G. A. | last4 = Bray | first4 = R. A. | last5 = Moravec | first5 = F. | last6 = Trilles | first6 = J.-P. | last7 = Whittington | first7 = I. D. | year = 2010 | title = An annotated list of parasites (Isopoda, Copepoda, Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda and Nematoda) collected in groupers (Serranidae, Epinephelinae) in New Caledonia emphasizes parasite biodiversity in coral reef fish | journal = Folia Parasitologica | volume = 57 | issue = 4 | pages = 237–262 | doi = 10.14411/fp.2010.032 | pmid=21344838| doi-access = free }}</ref>