Spotted grouper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted grouper |
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The spotted grouper, also known as Epinephelus analogus, is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. People sometimes call it the spotted cabrilla or rock bass. It's a type of grouper, which belongs to a larger fish family called Serranidae. This family also includes fish like anthias and sea basses. You can find the spotted grouper swimming around reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
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About the Spotted Grouper
The spotted grouper has a body shape that is about 2.6 to 3.0 times longer than it is deep. It has a special bone near its gills called the preopercle. This bone has small bumps, and the ones at the corner are a bit bigger.
This fish has two main fins on its back. The first one has 10 strong spines. The second one has 16 to 18 soft rays. Its fin underneath, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The fins on its sides (pectoral fins) are shorter than the fins on its belly (pelvic fins). Its tail fin is round.
What Does It Look Like?
The spotted grouper is usually brown or grey. It has many small reddish-brown spots all over its head and body. These spots are about the same size as its eye pupil on its body. But they are smaller on its head and fins.
You might also see four faint dark stripes on the upper part of its body. These stripes go up onto its back fin. Young spotted groupers have bigger spots than adults. Their dark stripes are also much clearer. The biggest spotted grouper ever found was about 114 centimeters (45 inches) long. It weighed up to 22.3 kilograms (49 pounds)!
Where the Spotted Grouper Lives
The spotted grouper lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean. You can find it from southern California in the United States all the way down to northern Peru. It also lives around several islands. These include the Revillagigedos Islands in Mexico and the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. You can also find it near Malpelo Island in Colombia and Cocos Island in Costa Rica.
Habitat and Life
Spotted groupers like to live in rocky reefs. They also hang out in shallow areas where rivers meet the sea, called estuaries. They can be found as deep as 107 meters (351 feet). Sometimes, they live in smaller, scattered reefs too.
Young spotted groupers prefer tidal pools, estuaries, and lagoons. These are safer places for them to grow up. The spotted grouper is a predator. This means it hunts other animals for food. It mostly eats crustaceans, like crabs, and other fish. It finds its food on rocky and sandy parts of the ocean floor. In winter, these groupers move closer to the shore. This is because many red crabs gather there, giving them lots of food!
Fishing for Spotted Groupers
People like to catch the spotted grouper. It's a popular fish for people who fish for fun. Small-scale local fishers also catch them. Big fishing companies catch them too, especially in the Gulf of California. This fish sells for a good price in the market. It's also important for fishing in central and southern Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru.
Even though scientists say this fish is not currently in danger, there are worries. Some people are concerned that too many spotted groupers are being caught. This could harm their populations in the future.
