Grouper fish4/9/2023 Giant groupers are, like other groupers, protogynous hermaphrodites. This is done to communicate with other groupers, as well as to guard its own territory. Giant groupers can communicate using their mouths by creating a deep rumble that travels through the water. While they are not considered a threat to humans, divers are advised not to try to touch them or feed them. They are, however, curious animals and will approach divers. The giant grouper is a solitary animal for most of its life. These fish can swim at speeds of up to 78 mph (125 kmph) if they need to, but most of their prey is slow-moving. Giant groupers eat their prey whole instead of chewing, using their very large mouths to create enough negative pressure to suck in whole fishes or large invertebrates. Giant groupers are carnivores and eat a wide variety of fishes, but will also eat small sharks, juvenile sea turtles, crustaceans and molluscs. Some, however, can live for up to 100 years old. Giant groupers have a long lifespan, living for an average of 37 yeas. Giant groupers have 11 spines and 14 to 16 soft rays in the dorsal fin while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. They have small eyes and a large mouth with needle-like teeth. Juveniles are yellow with wide, dark irregular bars and irregular dark spots on their fins. They have a thick, robust body that is greyish-brown in color with a mottled pattern and darker fins. The maximum recorded weight for one of these groupers is 400 kilograms (880 lb), although 363 kilograms (800 lb) is more common. Giant groupers are large fish, which can measure around 180 centimetres (71 in) long, although some have measured up to 270 centimetres (110 in). The biggest threats to these animals are overfishing and habitat loss. The giant grouper is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, but some other species, such as the Atlantic goliath grouper, are critically endangered, so we can assume the population of the giant grouper is declining. These fish are solitary animals and protogynous hermaphrodites. These fish eat a variety of other fishes, as well as small sharks and other marine animals. They reside in shallow waters, at depths of 1 to 100 metres (3.3 to 328.1 ft). Giant groupers are the most widely distributed species of grouper in the world, and are found in the Indo-Pacific. The family Serranidae also includes the anthias and sea basses. The trick is when you first hook a grouper you have to be sure you don’t let it hide back in the rocks or a cave and dig in as it will become an immovable object.The giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), also known as the Queensland grouper, brindle grouper or mottled-brown sea bass, is a species of fish from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae. Grouper aren’t known to have excellent fighting abilities like billfish or tarpon, but due to their sheer size they make for a fun encounter. Due to their delicious white meat and slow grow rate however they have become under pressure from over fishing the past two decades, especially the goliath grouper. Grouper are a vital part of sustaining a healthy balance on the reef as they are a top predator. As the name implies, the goliath grouper is by far the largest of the species and can reportedly reach up to 1,000 lbs! The world record was a 680 pound monster caught in Florida in the 80s, but today they rarely grow larger than 200-300 lbs. The broomtail grouper is found on the Pacific Coast of Central America while the gag, black, and goliath grouper are found on the Atlantic Coast and Caribbean. Their lower jaws extend past the upper jaw, exposing rows of sharp small teeth. Grouper have conical shapes like football and large broom-like tails. They are also a reef dwelling fish and can be found between 30 feet of water to 300 feet. No matter which ocean they reside in, grouper are always found in tropical temperate waters. A member of the sea bass family, grouper share similar characteristics despite varying sizes and colorations. Similar to snapper, there are seemingly countless sub-categories of grouper.
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