WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Atlantic Goliath Grouper

Epinephelus itajara

Also known as: Black Bass, Cod, Coral Cod, Esonue Cod, Giant Grouper, Giant Sea Bass, Goliath Grouper, Hamlet, Hind, Itajara, Jewfish, Reef Cod, Rockcod, Trout

VUVulnerableIUCN Red List, 2018
Handle with careLook, don't touch
Adult
@fishx6 · Lost Chambers Aquarium, Atlantis The Palm, Dubia, United Arab Emirates · October 20131 / 6
01

Overview

Found singly over coral, mud, and rock bottoms, usually in shallow, inshore waters of coastlines and estuaries. Territorial when close to its refuge, in caves and wrecks!
Juveniles found in brackish estuaries and mangroves.

Large individuals have been known to stalk and attack divers!
This is the largest of the grouper family.

Groupers are solitary carnivores that hunt near the bottom usually at dusk. Food is drawn into their mouths by a powerful suction when they open their overly large mouths and then swallowed whole.
Spawning is seasonal and controlled by the moons phase.

02

How to identify

Pattern
blotches

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic
  • Country only · 6
LIVES IN

Found singly over coral, mud, and rock bottoms, usually in shallow, inshore waters of coastlines and estuaries.

04

Adult photos 6

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyEpinephelidae
    6. genusEpinephelus
    7. speciesEpinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Groupers (Epinephelidae)