Sailfin grouper (Mycteroperca olfax)

Scientific name: Mycteroperca olfax Jenyns, 1840

The Sailfin grouper (Mycteroperca olfax) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Isla del Coco off Costa Rica and Galapagos Islands (Ecuador). Reports from Panama and Peru have been discounted.

Biology

Found among rock walls, underwater lava ridges, and all kinds of well structured vertical rock formations. Juveniles found in shallow sandy lagoons, also in seagrass beds, mangrove lagoons, shallow lava reefs and inland lava ponds. Adults are mainly piscivorous, prey size increasing with predator size.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Mycteroperca olfax
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 120
Depth range: 5–73 m (16–240 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 73 m, usually 15 - 40 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: Isla del Coco off Costa Rica and Galapagos Islands (Ecuador). Reports from Panama and Peru have been discounted.
Conservation status (IUCN): Vulnerable (VU) (D2), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.18; tm=3; tmax=7)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026