Characterization of thirteen new polymorphic microsatellite markers from the honeycomb grouper Epinephelus merra

Epinephelus merra (Serranidae) is the most common and widespread species of this genus, mostly found in reef habitats from South Africa to Central Pacific. Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from this species. Polymorphism was studied in two localities from the Comoros archipelago—Mohéli and Moroni. Allelic diversity was 7.5, polymorphism ranging from 3 to 13 alleles. Overall heterozygosity was high with an average observed heterozygosity of 0.587. Three of these loci were characterised by heterozygote deficiencies for both populations. Finally, ten of the 13 developed primers could be used in future population genetics study of E.merra that might be useful in a context of marine biodiversity conservation.