Island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca)

Scientific name: Mycteroperca fusca Lowe, 1838

The Island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae. Native range: Eastern Atlantic, known with certainty only from the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Mycteroperca fusca
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 80.0
Depth range: 200 m (656 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 200 m, usually 20 - 30 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: known with certainty only from the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN): Endangered (EN) (B1ab(v)), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026