Atlantic goliath grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Pacific goliath grouper
Epinephelus quinquefasciatus
About
The Pacific goliath grouper is one of the largest groupers, reaching 2.5 m. It is the closest relative of the Atlantic goliath grouper and was long regarded as the same species.
Also known as: epinephelus quinquefasciatus, pacific itajara grouper
- Length
- 2.5 m
- Depth
- up to 100 m
How to tell it apart
A very large grouper, grey or greenish with pale blotches and small dark spots on the upper head, body and pectoral fins. It lives only in the Eastern Pacific.
Appearance
A robust, oblong body with a wide, flat area between the eyes. Adults are grey or greenish with pale blotches and small dark spots on the upper head, body and pectoral fins. Fish under a metre are greenish to tawny with irregular darker diagonal bars, and juveniles have five diagonal black bars and heavily spotted fins.
Habitat
It lives in the Eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of Baja California to Peru, including the Revillagigedo Islands, Cocos Island and Malpelo. Adults live on offshore rocky reefs, down to about 100 m; juveniles live in mangroves, estuaries, lagoons and bays.
Behaviour
Little is known about its biology, which is thought to be similar to that of the Atlantic goliath grouper.
Diet
It has been recorded feeding on sharks, rays, crustaceans, cephalopods, other fish and even sea snakes and mammals.
Did you know?
In Colombia, goliath groupers under 30 cm are regarded as the most valuable, which leads fishermen to target small fish before they can reproduce.
Log it in Into the Blue
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