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Species/Notes of Interest to Aquarists:
Of the fifteen described species of this genus of basses only a few make
their way into our captive aquatic worlds. Most just get way too big for hobby
systems, though as juveniles they're attractive and intelligent...
| Mycteroperca bonaci Poey 1860, the Black Grouper.
Tropical west Atlantic into the Gulf of Mexico. To more than four feet in
length. An occasional "accidental" offering out of the TWA. Adult images from the
Bahamas below. |
| Mycteroperca interstitialis (Poey 1860), the
Yellowmouth Grouper. Yet another misplaced bass in the trade. Infrequently
collected in the tropical west Atlantic as attractive juveniles, they grow
to more than thirty inches in length. Six and twelve inch individuals in
the Bahamas shown. |
 
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| Mycteroperca jordani (Jenkins &
Evermann 1889), the Gulf Grouper. A food and game fish and upper reef
predator from the tropical eastern Pacific. To over five feet in length.
Tasty, but too large for aquarium use. |
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| Mycteroperca olfax (Jenyns
1840), the Bacalao. Recorded from Cocos (Costa Rica) and Galapagos. To 120
cm. in length. Two foot
specimen of Galapagos. |
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| Mycteroperca phenax Jordan & Swain
1884, the Scamp. West Atlantic. To about a meter in length. One foot
specimen off of Cozumel. |
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| Mycteroperca rosacea (Streets 1877), the Leopard and
Golden Grouper. Tropical eastern Pacific. To twenty eight inches in
length. Prized for its xanthic golden morph, this bass is a case study in
collective hunting prowess. Nighttime normal color variety and cast of
golden shown. |
 
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| Mycteroperca tigris (Valenciennes 1833), the Tiger
Grouper. Tropical west Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. To more than three
feet in length. This handsome species is entirely piscivorous. Smaller
individual in Grand Turks, older ones in Bahamas and
Bonaire below. |
| Mycteroperca venenosa (Linnaeus 1758), the Yellowfin
Grouper. Tropical West Atlantic. To a meter in length. Comes in a few
color, pattern varieties. This one off Cancun, Mexico. |
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Bibliography/Further Reading:
Kerstitch, Alex. 1986. The golden grouper, Mycteroperca
rosacea. FAMA 2/86.
Thomson, Donald A., Lloyd T.
Findley & Alex N. Kerstitch.1979. Reef Fishes of the Sea of Cortez. John
Wiley & Sons, New York. 302pp.
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