- The Goliath Grouper, or Epinephelus itajara, are mainly located in 50m deep coral reefs along Florida, the Bahamas, and Brazil, and in the Carribean. It is labeled "Critically Endangered" because of its nature. It large populations often return to the same spots and aggresively attack bait. Fortunately, the World Conservation Union banned their harvesting.
- Goliath grouper prey on fish, crustaceans, octopus, and young sea turtle. They are larger fish, reaching a little over 8 feet and weighing up to 800lbs.
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Perciformes
- Family: Serranidae
- Genus: Epindphelus
- Species: Itajara
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- The goliath grouper is mainly brown or yellow with black spots on its appendages. It has five stripes (less visible as they age).
- The Goliath grouper are supposedly protogynous hermaphrodites. This term refers to the inital formation of females adults, and of these adults, only some of the stronger individuals become males. This has not been verified. (Anyway) The fertilized eggs form into larvae that drift in water columns. They do not settle in the mangrove forests for many monthes until an upcoming fall or winter. It takes the grouper 5 - 6 years to mature, and if the theory is right, size will determine sex. Goliath grouper have a life expectancy of 37 years.
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