Yellowfin grouper
Rockfish
Photo Credit: © Diane Rome Peebles
Family Groupers, hamlets, hinds, seabasses, sand-perches, tatleys
Scientific Family Serranidae
Scientific Name Mycteroperca venenosa
Spanish Name Arigua
ITIS# 167764
Tail shape Emarginate
Adult: head and body densely covered with red-brown to dark brown spots, a network of pale lines outlines irregular elongate dark (brown to reddish) blotches on upper body, and wavy lines on flank; pectoral with base with irregular dark spots, outer 1/3 abruptly yellow; outer parts of soft dorsal, soft anal and tail fins dark.
Biology
Adults found on rocky and coral reefs, juveniles occur in shallow turtle grass beds. Also been taken in trawls over mud bottom in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Feeds mainly on fishes (mostly on coral reef species) and squids.
Appearance
Body Shape
Fusiform
Color
Main Color: Red
Other Color: brown
Other Color: brown
Common Body Shape
Torpedo-shaped
Pattern
Spotted
Length
Avg Length: 20 inches (50 cm)
Max Length: 40 inches (100 cm)
Max Length: 40 inches (100 cm)
Maximum Weight
40.7 lbs (18480 g)
Specifications
Handling Concerns
Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Conservation Concerns
Some decline
Range in USA
FL
Abundance
Uncommon