Grouper

ID points

• Large head and mouth, with the lower jaw slightly protruding
• Stout body with a broad, rounded tail fin
• Sits motionless at the mouth of a reef hole and feeds by suction

Basics

Family

Serranidae

Length

40–120 cm

Depth

2-200 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Tropical coral and rocky reefs worldwide

Habitat

Coral and rocky reefs with caves

Diet

Fish, crustaceans

Easily confused with

Camouflage GrouperBrown blotches join into camouflage with blurred edgesLeopard GrouperBrown ground densely covered with small red-brown spotsPotato GrouperLarge potato-shaped dark blotches scattered on a greyish white ground

Fun fact

Groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites: they mature first as females, and some individuals later turn into males. They are ambush hunters, lying still beside the rock and taking prey with an explosive lunge rather than a chase. Groupers also hunt in partnership with octopuses, using a distinctive body signal to call one over and flush prey out together.

More in this family

• Anthias
• Barramundi Cod
• Coral Hind
• Coral Trout
• Giant Grouper
• Peacock Grouper