Red grouper
📖 Overview
Adults occur mainly over rocky and muddy bottoms. Uncommon around coral reefs. Usually rest on the bottom . Juveniles may be found in shallow water, but adults are usually taken from depths of 70-330 m . Feed on a wide variety of fishes and invertebrates. Are protogynous hermaphrodites . Most females transform to males between ages 7 to 14. Susceptible to red tide toxin (Ptychodiscus brevi) . Marketed fresh or frozen. The world record for hook and line, 39 lbs., from Cape Canaveral, Florida .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Color of head and body dark reddish brown, shading to pink or reddish below. Opercle with 3 flat spines, the middle one being the largest. Vertical fins angulate in larger fish. Pelvic fins shorter than pectorals and inserted slightly behind ventral and pectoral-fin base. Bases of soft dorsal and anal fins covered with scales and thick skin. No saddle on caudal peduncle. Interspinous membranes not incised ; head length 2.3-2.5 times in SL; convex interorbital; subangular preopercle, serrae at angle slightly enlarged; straight upper edge of operculum; posterior and anterior nostrils subequal .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Red grouper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Sex change occurs at 75.5 cm TL and 9.5 years of age .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 5 - 330 m , usually 70 - 330 m . Subtropical; 35°N - 27°S, 98°W - 33°W North Carolina, USA to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Bermuda; strays occur north to Massachusetts.
🌿 Ecology
a wide variety of fishes and invertebrates
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Red grouper is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 176 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Red grouper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Brown Grouper · Cherna De Vivero · Deer Grouper · deer hamlet · Grouper · Hamlet · Red Grouper · Rock Grouper |
| 🌍CES | kanic červenohnědý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Rød havaborre |
| 🇩🇪German | roter Grouper |
| 🇫🇷French | Mérou nègre · mérou rouge · Vieille rouge |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ツマグロハタ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | rode tandbaars · rode zaagbaars · Rode zeebaars |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | garoupa · garoupa-bichada · garoupa-de-são-tomé · garoupa-de-segunda · garoupa-são-tomé · garoupa-senhor-de-engenho · garoupa-verdadeira · garoupa-vermelha · garoupa-vermelha-dos-abrolhos · mero-americano · piragia |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Красный групер |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | cherna americana · Mero Americano · Mero Guasa · Mero rojo |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 黑緣石斑魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serranus angustifrons | Steindachner | 1864 | Synonym |
| Serranus erythrogaster | DeKay | 1842 | Synonym |
| Serranus morio | Valenciennes | 1828 | Synonym |
| Serranus remotus | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 19 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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