Black Grouper
Black Grouper with a Cleaning Goby
| Name: | Black Grouper |
| Scientific Name: | Mycteroperca bonaci |
| Family: | Groupers |
| Taxonomic: | Epinephelidae |
| ID Group: | Groupers, Sea Basses, Basslets |
| Size: | 1.5 - 3 ft. |
| Depth Range: | On the reef (10 – 60 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Not usually seen |
The Black Grouper has a body that varies in color from pale to dark brown and is covered in irregular rectangular blotches. It can quickly change to a very dark, almost black color. The fins and tail have a dark border, and the tail has a thin white edge.
This Grouper can be found alone in shallow waters, hiding in crevices, and on the reef. It is an ambush predator that feeds on smaller reef fishes, such as Grunts, Snappers, and Herrings, as well as crustaceans and Squid. It begins life as a female, and some individuals later transition to male. It gathers in groups to spawn, releasing eggs and sperm into open water. The Black Grouper can live for at least 30 years and grow to a large size. However, on Bonaire, large Groupers are threatened and declining due to overfishing and habitat loss.