Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus)
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General data

Main name: Pacific goliath grouper
Local names: Pacific itajara grouper
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: North America, South America
Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California

Classification

Description

The Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus), also known as the Pacific itajara grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where it is associated with reefs. It is related to the Atlantic goliath grouper. Description The Pacific goliath grouper has a robust, oblong body. The area between the eyes is wide and flat. The margin of the preopercle has fine serrations and an angled edge. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 15–16 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The caudal fin istail rounded. The head and body are grey or greenish in colour marked with pale blotches and small dark spots which are scattered over the upper head and body, as well as on the pectoral fins. Subadult fish which are less than 100 centimetres (39 in) in length are overall greenish to tawny brown in colour with diagonal, irregular darker brown bars on the body and caudal fin. The juveniles have heavy spotting on the head, the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin and the pectoral, pelvic, and caudal fins, They have 5 diagonal black bars on the body which reach onto the dorsal and anal fins and there is a black bar on base of the caudal fin. This is one of the largest species of grouper, attaining a maximum total length of 250 centimetres (98 in). Distribution The Pacific goliath grouper is found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the west coasts of the Americas. It is found from the Gulf of California and the Pacific coast of Baja California south to Peru. Its range also includes the islands groups of Revillagigedos in Mexico, Cocos Island in Costa Rica and Malpelo Island in Colombia. Habitat and biology The Pacific goliath grouper is found on offshore rocky reefs as adults, although it has also been recorded in inshore areas. The juveniles inhabit mangroves, estuaries, lagoons and bays. It has been recorded feeding on sharks, rays, crustaceans, cephalopods, other fishes and even sea snakes and mammals. Little is known about its biology but it is thought to be similar to the Atlantic goliath grouper.

Catches

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
    
    Percidae - Perches->
    
    Pomatomidae - Bluefishes->
    
    Serranidae - Sea basses->
    
    Pomacentridae - Damsel and clownfishes->
    
    Latidae - Lates perches->
    
    Centropomidae - Snooks->
    
    Lutjanidae - Snappers->
    
    Haemulidae - Grunts->
    
    Artedidraconidae - Barbled plunderfishes->
    
    Embiotocidae - Surfperches->
    
    Glaucosomatidae - Pearl perches->
    
    Malacanthidae - Tilefishes->
    
    Polynemidae - Threadfin->
    
    Gerreidae - Mojarras->
    
    Priacanthidae - Bigeyes->
    
    Monodactylidae - Moonyfishes->
    
    Centrogenyidae - False scorpionfishes->
    
    Epinephelidae - Groupers->
    
    Epinephelus - Cloudy groupers->
    
    Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
    
    Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)
    
    Goldblotch grouper (Epinephelus costae)
    
    Red grouper (Epinephelus morio)
    
    Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
    
    Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)
    
    Maori rockcod (Epinephelus undulatostriatus)
    
    Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus)
    
    One-blotch grouper (Epinephelus melanostigma)
    
    Comet grouper (Epinephelus morrhua)
    
    Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus)
    
    Giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)
    
    Honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra)
    
    Potato grouper (Epinephelus tukula)
    
    Blue-and-yellow grouper (Epinephelus flavocaeruleus)
    
    White grouper (Epinephelus aeneus)
    
    Epaulet grouper (Epinephelus stoliczkae)
    
    Rock hind (Epinephelus adscensionis)
    
    Hong Kong grouper (Epinephelus akaara)
    
    White-edged grouper (Epinephelus albomarginatus)
    
    Banded grouper (Epinephelus amblycephalus)
    
    Spotted grouper (Epinephelus analogus)
    
    Catface grouper (Epinephelus andersoni)
    
    Areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus)
    
    Yellow grouper (Epinephelus awoara)
    
    Frostback rockcod (Epinephelus bilobatus)
    
    Duskytail grouper (Epinephelus bleekeri)
    
    Palemargin grouper (Epinephelus bontoides)
    
    Longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus)
    
    Dogtooth grouper (Epinephelus caninus)
    
    Moustache grouper (Epinephelus chabaudi)
    
    Tonga grouper (Epinephelus chlorocephalus)
    
    Brownspotted grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma)
    
    Epinephelus clippertonensis (Epinephelus clippertonensis)
    
    Whitespotted grouper (Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus)
    
    Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)
    
    Coral grouper (Epinephelus corallicola)
    
    Brokenbar Grouper (Epinephelus craigi)
    
    Speckled blue grouper (Epinephelus cyanopodus)
    
    Saddletail grouper (Epinephelus daemelii)
    
    Spinycheek grouper (Epinephelus diacanthus)
    
    Speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi)
    
    Dotted grouper (Epinephelus epistictus)
    
    Cloudy grouper (Epinephelus erythrurus)
    
    Rock grouper (Epinephelus fasciatomaculosus)
    
    Barred-chest grouper (Epinephelus faveatus)
    
    Brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)
    
    Darkmargin grouper (Epinephelus fuscomarginatus)
    
    Multispotted grouper (Epinephelus gabriellae)
    
    Epinephelus geoffroyi (Epinephelus geoffroyi)
    
    Dungat grouper (Epinephelus goreensis)
    
    Red hind (Epinephelus guttatus)
    
    Bridled grouper (Epinephelus heniochus)
    
    Starspotted grouper (Epinephelus hexagonatus)
    
    Blacksaddle grouper (Epinephelus howlandi)
    
    Somali grouper (Epinephelus indistinctus)
    
    Pacifc insular grouper; (Epinephelus insularis)
    
    Marquesan grouper (Epinephelus irroratus)
    
    Epinephelus japonicus (Epinephelus japonicus)
    
    Fivebar grouper (Epinephelus kupangensis)
    
    Starry grouper (Epinephelus labriformis)
    
    Striped grouper (Epinephelus latifasciatus)
    
    Mystery grouper (Epinephelus lebretonianus)
    
    Longspine grouper (Epinephelus longispinis)
    
    Snubnose grouper (Epinephelus macrospilos)
    
    Highfin grouper (Epinephelus maculatus)
    
    Speckled grouper (Epinephelus magniscuttis)
    
    Netfin grouper (Epinephelus miliaris)
    
    White-blotched grouper (Epinephelus multinotatus)
    
    White-streaked grouper (Epinephelus ongus)
    
    Dot-dash grouper (Epinephelus poecilonotus)
    
    Smallscaled grouper (Epinephelus polylepis)
    
    Camouflage grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion)
    
    White-dotted grouper (Epinephelus polystigma)
    
    Striped-fin grouper (Epinephelus posteli)
    
    Longfin grouper (Epinephelus quoyanus)
    
    Oblique-banded grouper (Epinephelus radiatus)
    
    Red-tipped grouper (Epinephelus retouti)
    
    Halfmoon grouper (Epinephelus rivulatus)
    
    Sixbar grouper (Epinephelus sexfasciatus)
    
    Surge grouper (Epinephelus socialis)
    
    Foursaddle grouper (Epinephelus spilotoceps)
    
    Black-dotted grouper (Epinephelus stictus)
    
    Seamount grouper (Epinephelus suborbitalis)
    
    Summan grouper (Epinephelus summana)
    
    Greasy grouper (Epinephelus tauvina)
    
    Yellowspotted grouper (Epinephelus timorensis)
    
    Threespot grouper (Epinephelus trimaculatus)
    
    Plump grouper (Epinephelus trophis)
    
    Reticulate grouper (Epinephelus tuamotuensis)
    
    Wavy-lined grouper (Epinephelus undulosus)
    
    Mycteroperca - Groupers ->
    
    Cephalopholis - Scaleheaded groupers->
    
    Cromileptes - Humpback groupers->
    
    Hyporthodus - Hyporthodus->
    
    Alphestes - Alphestes->
    
    Variola - Variola->
    
    Anyperodon - Anyperodon->
    
    Gonioplectrus - Gonioplectrus->
    
    Plectropomus - Coral groupers->
    
    Gracila - Gracila->
    
    Aethaloperca - Aethaloperca->
    
    Chromileptes - Chromileptes->
    
    Dermatolepis - Dermatolepis->
    
    Saloptia - Saloptia->
    
    Triso - Triso->
    
    Cebidichthyidae - Cebidichthyidae->
    
    Anthiadidae - Anthiadidae->
    
    Ambassidae - Asiatic glassfishes->
    
    Bathydraconidae - Antarctic dragonfishes->
    
    Bembropidae - Duckbill flatheads->
    
    Bovichtidae - Thornfishes->
    
    Caesionidae - Fusiliers->
    
    Caesioscorpididae - Blowhole perches->
    
    Centracanthidae - Picarels->
    
    Cepolidae - Bandfishes->
    
    Channichthyidae - Crocodile icefishes->
    
    Congrogadidae - Eelblennies->
    
    Datnioididae - Freshwater tripletails->
    
    Dinopercidae - Cavebasses->
    
    Eleginopidae - Patagonian blennies->
    
    Grammatidae - Basslets->
    
    Grammistidae - Soapfishes->
    
    Hapalogenyidae - Barbeled grunters->
    
    Harpagiferidae - Spiny plunderfishes->
    
    Lactariidae - False trevallies->
    
    Latilidae - Deepwater tilefishes->
    
    Leptobramidae - Beachsalmon->
    
    Liopropomatidae - Painted basslets->
    
    Niphonidae - Ara groupers->
    
    Nototheniidae - Cod icefishes->
    
    Opistognathidae - Jawfishes->
    
    Oxylebiinae - Painted greenlings->
    
    Plesiopidae - Roundheads->
    
    Pseudaphritidae - Catadromous icefishes->
    
    Pseudochromidae - Dottybacks->
    
    Ptereleotridae - Dartfishes->
    
    Toxotidae - Archerfishes->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->

Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus)Follow

General data

Classification

Description

Catches

Taxonomy of Fishes

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Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus)
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