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🌊 Marine Data Deficient 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish ⚡ Reports of ciguatera poisoning 🌡️ Subtropical

Tiger grouper

Mycteroperca tigris Valenciennes, 1833
Max Length
101 cm
Max Weight
10.0 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.5
Depth
10–40 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
64.00/100
Typical Length
40 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

A solitary species occurring in coral reefs and rocky areas. It is considered an ambush predator that hides among the coral and sponges and is easy to approach. Frequents cleaning stations . The size versus sex distribution of Bermuda population indicates that this species is a protogynous hermaphrodite; all fish less than 37 cm TL were females and all fish larger than 45 cm TL were males . Randall reported food of 59 specimens 15 to 57 cm SL were purely fishes of a variety of species.

Scientific Name
Mycteroperca tigris
Authority
Valenciennes, 1833
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
DD
Max Length
101 cm
Max Weight
10 kg
Depth Range
10–40 m
Latitude
29°S – 33°N
Trophic Level
4.5
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
64.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Distinguished by the following characteristics: Back crossed by about 11 pale narrow lines that slope downward and forward. No other grouper in the Caribbean has the same pattern of narrow pale diagonal lines . Further characterized by having depth of body contained 3.1-3.6 times in SL; head length 2.5-2.8 times in SL; flat interorbital area; rounded preopercle, without lobe at angle; diameter of posterior nostrils 3-5 times larger than anterior ones; large teeth, well developed canines .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Tiger grouper is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Tiger grouper is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
46cm TL

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 40 m . Subtropical; 33°N - 29°S, 98°W - 33°W

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
4.5±0.8
🧍 Solitary

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01122 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
101cm
Max Weight
10,000g
Dorsal Spines
11
Dorsal Rays
16
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
11

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Data Deficient
Assessment Date
2016

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
64.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.5
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
33°N – 29°S
Described By
Valenciennes, 1833

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Tiger grouper is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • 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
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 19.4 g
Omega-3 (total) 192 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Tiger grouper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Black Gremanic · Black Grouper · Gag · gag rockfish · Gremanic · Tiger grouper
🌍CES kanic tygří
🇩🇰Danish Tigerhavaborre
🇫🇷French Badèche tigre · Badèche-tigre
🇯🇵Japanese シモフリハタ
🇵🇹Portuguese Badejo mira · Badejo-tigre · Garoupa-tigre · Serigado · Sirigado
🇷🇺Russian Тигровая миктероперка · Тигровый групер
🇪🇸Spanish Bonaci gato · cabrilla gato · Cuna Gata · Diente De Sable · Guajil Pinto · Mero Pinto · Vampiro
🇨🇳Chinese 虎喙鱸

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Mycteroperca hopkinsi Jordan & Rutter 1897 Synonym
Serranus camelopardalis Poey 1860 Synonym
Serranus camelopardis Poey 1860 Synonym
Serranus felinus Poey 1860 Synonym
Serranus repandus Poey 1860 Synonym
Serranus rivulatus Poey 1860 Heterotypic
Serranus tigris Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Trisotropis reticulatus Gill 1865 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 14 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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