Giant grouper

Giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta accompanied by young trevally.

The giant grouper ( Epinephelus lanceolatus ), also called to distinguish it from spotted grouper ( Epinephelus tukula ) Dark giant grouper, with a maximum length of 2.7 to 3.0 meters and a maximum weight of 400 kilograms, the largest living coral reefs in bony fish.

Appearance

Giant groupers have the typical perch shape with a front and a rear hartstrahligen, soft-rayed dorsal fin. The large mouth gives them a " fierce " appearance. Juvenile giant groupers are colored black and have yellow fins, adult fish are mottled gray-brown and bright.

• Fins formula: Dorsal XI/14-16, Anal III / 8

The spines of the dorsal fin to the rear are getting longer.

Dissemination

They live in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific between southern Japan, Hawaii and New Caledonia. Giant groupers live in both lagoons, as well as to outside reefs to depths of 100 meters, usually only up to 50 meters.

In heavily fished regions of the giant groupers are gone.

Giant groupers inhabit caves, often wrecks. They are incompatible, aggressive, living in districts loner. They feed carnivorous crustaceans, especially lobsters and fish. Even small sea turtles and small sharks belong to their food. There are unconfirmed reports of attacks on humans.

The meat of adult giant groupers can be poisoned by ciguatoxins.