Grouper
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Grouper are a family of fish found in marine environments around the world. They have stout bodies, large mouths, and come in a variety of colors depending on species. While not fast swimmers, some grouper species can grow very large, over a meter in length and 100 kg in weight. Grouper reproduce through both sex change and dedicated sexes depending on species, with larger males typically controlling harems. They are an important part of marine ecosystems, preying on other fish and invertebrates while also serving as prey for larger predators.
Grouper
- 1. Grouper By: Megan Rard Marine Science “B”
- 2. Taxonomy Class: Actinopterygii Family: Serranidae Subfamily: Epinephelinae Genus: Plectropomus
- 3. Range Map
- 4. Description • Stout body • Large mouth • Many different kind of colors on scales (due to vary of species) • Not fast swimmer • Can grow large and lengths over a meter • Weights up to 100 kg but are not uncommon • Some in large group, considerable due to vary of species
- 5. Large mouth Stout body Red grouper (different scales)
- 6. Description • Rather to swallow prey than biting it off • Not many teeth on the edges of their jaws but have a heavy crushing tooth plates inside the pharynx (part of digestive system and respiratory system)
- 7. Size • Largest: Giant grouper – up to 2.7 meters (8.9 ft.) in length – 400 kg (880 lb.) in weight – Some unconfirmed report said it has grew bigger up to 10 ft. and 1,320 pounds • Smallest: Saddletail grouper – up to 200 cm in length – at least 68 kg in weight
- 8. Giant grouper Saddle tail grouper
- 9. Reproduction • Mature female have the ability to change sex after sexual maturity • Few species grow about kg per year until they reach 3 kg to become female • The largest males often control harems containing three to 15 females • Often pair spawn which enables large males to competitively exclude smaller males from reproducing
- 10. Reproduction • If a small female grouper were to change sex before it could control a harem as a male it would decrease if no males are available • The largest female that can increase by changing sex will do • Some groupers are gonochoristic • Gonochorism is a reproductive strategy with two distinct sexes, has evolved independently in groupers at least five times.
- 11. Reproduction • Both group spawning and habitat cover increase the likehood of a smaller male to reproduce in the presence of large males • Males grouper in environments where competitive exclusion of smaller males is not possible is correlated with sperm production and the testicle size – Gonochoristic groupers have larger testes than protogynous groupers (10% of body mass compared to 1% of body mass)
- 12. Reproduction • Indicating the evolution of gonochorism increased male grouper in environments where large males were unable to competitively exclude small males from reproducing
- 13. Groupers like to eat… parrotfish wrasses damselfishes snappers plankton microalgae
- 14. Groupers like to eat… other small microorganisms octopuses crustaceans crabs lobsters And their own species!
- 15. Can human eat a grouper? • Yes! • BUT… be aware because variety of parasites that affect the nostrils, stomach and intestines. • Some of these parasites include isopods, larval tapeworms, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes.
- 17. Side effects • Called Ciguatera Fish Poisoning • Symptoms: –DIARRHEA –ABDOMINAL CRAMPS –VOMITING
- 18. Interesting Facts • Grouper mouths and gills form a powerful sucking system that sucks their prey in from a distance • Also use their mouth to dig into sand to form their shelters under big rocks, jetting it out through their gills • Their gills muscles are so powerful, it is nearly impossible to pull them out of cave if they feel threated and extend those muscles to lock themselves in
- 19. Interesting Facts • Nassau grouper can produce a variety of loud booming sounds, created by vibrating the swim bladder, in an attempt to intimidate predators • Goliath grouper have ability to produce a distinctly audible rumbling sound generated by the muscular contraction of the swim bladder
- 20. Nassau grouper
- 21. My favorite grouper Yellowfin grouper