Blue-and-yellow grouper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue-and-yellow grouper |
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The blue-and-yellow grouper (scientific name: Epinephelus flavocaeruleus) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of grouper, which belongs to a big family of fish called Serranidae. This family also includes fish like anthias and sea basses.
These groupers are often found near reefs in the Indian Ocean.
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What Does the Blue-and-Yellow Grouper Look Like?
The blue-and-yellow grouper is a medium-sized fish. It can grow up to 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) long. But most of the time, they are around 45 centimeters (about 1.5 feet) long.
They have a body that is deep and a bit flat from side to side. Their head and body are usually a dark bluish-purple or dark grayish-blue. Sometimes, you might see pale blue spots on them.
Fins and Colors
Their fins and jaws are often bright yellow, which makes them easy to spot! As they get older, the yellow color fades. Older, larger groupers are usually dark gray, blue, purple, or even nearly black.
The blue-and-yellow grouper has special fins:
- Its dorsal fin (on its back) has 9 strong spines and 16 to 17 soft rays.
- Its anal fin (on its belly, near the tail) has 3 spines and 8 soft rays.
- Its caudal fin (tail fin) has a straight edge.
Where Do Blue-and-Yellow Groupers Live?
You can find the blue-and-yellow grouper all over the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. They live along the eastern coast of Africa, from Djibouti all the way to Port Alfred. They are also found east towards Sumatra.
They have been seen around islands like St Brandon and Rodrigues in the Mascarene Islands. You can also find them as far north as the Gulf of Mannar in India. While they live in the Gulf of Aden, they are not found in the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf.
How Do They Live and What Do They Eat?
Blue-and-yellow groupers are usually found alone. They like to stay in one place and protect their own territory.
Their Home
Young groupers live in shallow parts of the reefs. But as they grow up, the adults move to deeper reefs. They can be found as deep as 150 meters (about 490 feet) underwater!
What's on the Menu?
These groupers are predators, which means they hunt other animals for food. Their diet includes:
- Smaller fish
- Crabs
- Shrimps
- Spiny lobsters
- Squids
- Small octopuses
Who Discovered This Fish?
The blue-and-yellow grouper was first officially described in 1802. A French scientist named Bernard Germain de Lacépède gave it its first scientific name, Holocentrus flavocaeruleus. He found it near Mauritius.
How Are They Used by People?
In places like Réunion, blue-and-yellow groupers are caught by fishers as part of their regular fishing. In the Maldives, these fish are caught and sent to Hong Kong. There, they are sold alive in markets.
