Red grouper (Epinephelus morio)

Scientific name: Epinephelus morio Valenciennes, 1828

The Red grouper (Epinephelus morio) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, North Carolina, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Bermuda; strays occur north to Massachusetts.

Biology

Adults occur mainly over rocky and muddy bottoms. Uncommon around coral reefs. Usually rest on the bottom. Juveniles may be found in shallow water, but adults are usually taken from depths of 70-330 m. Feed on a wide variety of fishes and invertebrates. Are protogynous hermaphrodites. Most females transform to males between ages 7 to 14. Susceptible to red tide toxin (Ptychodiscus brevi). Marketed fresh or frozen. The world record for hook and line, 39 lbs., from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Epinephelus morio
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 125
Common length: 50.0
Depth range: 5–330 m (16–1083 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 330 m, usually 70 - 330 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Bermuda; strays occur north to Massachusetts.
Conservation status (IUCN): Near Threatened (NT), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Threat to humans: Other
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.1-0.18; tm=4-6; tmax=25; Fec=1.4 million)