Atlantic Goliath Grouper
ExploreFish
Atlantic Goliath Grouper
epinephelus itajara
The Atlantic Goliath Grouper is one of the largest fish in the ocean! These friendly giants can grow as big as a small car and love to hide among coral reefs.
Habitat: Goliath Groupers live in warm coastal waters and prefer coral reefs and rocky areas.
Appearance
The Atlantic Goliath Grouper is a massive, heavy-bodied fish with a mottled pattern of brown, green, and grey, allowing it to blend into rocky reef environments. It has small eyes set high on its head and a huge, upturned mouth, giving it a distinctive 'grouchy' appearance.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderPerciformesFamilySerranidaeGenusEpinephelus
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
1
Interesting facts
Goliath Groupers can grow larger than a refrigerator!
They can live for over 50 years underwater!
They can swallow small sharks and barracudas whole!
Young groupers hide safely in tangled mangrove roots.
Special abilities
Ability
Vacuum Attack
Atlantic Goliath Grouper can create a powerful vacuum by rapidly opening its huge mouth, sucking in unsuspecting prey.
Ability
Booming Warning
Atlantic Goliath Grouper has a special swim bladder that helps them make loud, booming sounds to scare off threats.
Ability
Camouflage Cloak
Atlantic Goliath Grouper has mottled skin patterns that help them blend seamlessly into rocky reefs and wrecks.
Ability
Powerful Lunge
Atlantic Goliath Grouper can burst from hiding with surprising speed to ambush prey that ventures too close.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 100-250 cm
- Weight
- 50-360 kg
- Lifespan
- 30-50 years
- Swim Speed
- 15 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 100 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
A hungry hunter, it eats many fish, crabs, and even small sharks!
Primary Foods
- Fish
- Crabs
- Lobsters
- Octopuses
- Small Sharks
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
hunts
Grey Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
A common prey fish in their habitat.
hunts
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Panulirus argus
A favored crustacean prey item.
hunts
Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Opportunistically preys on octopuses.
eaten by
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Juveniles can be prey for large sharks.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Giant GrouperGoliath FishGoliath GrouperJewfish
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Atlantic Goliath Grouper?
The easiest way to identify Atlantic Goliath Grouper is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Atlantic Goliath Grouper?
100-250 cm
How much does Atlantic Goliath Grouper weigh?
50-360 kg
How long does Atlantic Goliath Grouper live?
30-50 years
What does Atlantic Goliath Grouper eat?
A hungry hunter, it eats many fish, crabs, and even small sharks!
How fast can Atlantic Goliath Grouper swim?
15 km/h
Where is Atlantic Goliath Grouper usually found?
Goliath Groupers live in warm coastal waters and prefer coral reefs and rocky areas.
How does Atlantic Goliath Grouper hunt?
Ambush
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Where to spot
Zoo30 sightings14 species
New Mexico, US
Albuquerque Aquarium
You might spot Sand Tiger Shark and Zebra Shark.
View guide →
Zoo30 sightings14 species
US
Key West Aquarium
You might spot Nurse Shark, Sea Turtle, and Cownose Ray.
View guide →
Zoo30 sightings13 species
Texas, US
Texas State Aquarium
You might spot Bottlenose Dolphin and Sea Turtle.
View guide →
Aquarium0 sightings13 species
Missouri, US
World Aquarium
You might spot Great White Shark and Blue Spotted Stingray.
View guide →
Aquarium0 sightings12 species
US
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
You might spot Great White Shark and North American River Otter.
View guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Florida, US
Society of the Four Arts
You might spot Brown Anole and Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard.
View guide →
