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
Atlantic Goliath Grouper
social trait badgecolorful trait badgecarnivorous trait badgeaquatic trait badge
Atlantic Goliath Grouper

Category

Fish

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

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

Also known as

Giant GrouperGoliath FishGoliath GrouperJewfish

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

How deep can Atlantic Goliath Grouper go?

100 m

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Fish