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Red Grouper

Red grouper

Epinephelus morio

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Fun Facts

Red grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites: all fish begin life as female, and transform to males after reaching 23 inches in length (7-14 years).

Species Type:

Fishes

Common Name(s):

Red grouper

Size:

On average, red groupers grow to 1.7 feet (.5 meter) and 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms).

Diet:

Red grouper eat invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, and octopuses, as well as fish such as snappers and parrotfish. They are known to be very susceptible to red tide.

Range & Habitat:

Red grouper are a bottom dwelling species found over hard and muddy bottoms. Juveniles live in seagrass beds, and move to rocky habitats as they get larger. They can be found from North Carolina to southern Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

Details:

Red grouper, as the name suggests, are red to reddish brown with irregular white splotches on their body. They may also have small black dots rear their eyes. When resting, they can take on a more banded appearance, resembling the Nassau grouper.