Golden Grouper (Epinephelus Alexandrinus)
Latin name: Epinephelus alexandrinus
Common name: Golden grouper
Other names: Gold blotch grouper
In other languages: E: Falso abadejo, F: Bada¨che, D: Spitzkopf-Zackenbarsch
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Genus: Epinephelus
Distribution: Mediterranean, East Atlantic.
Habitat: 10 metres down to 200 metres, around rock formations, cave entrances and wrecks.
Behaviour: This hermaphrodite ranges over larger areas than most groupers. Unlike many in this family it will in no way use the topography it moves over as a bolthole or home base. Being far stronger and faster swimmers than most family members of the same size, they seem little afraid of anything and will move out into open water when in pursuit of prey items. They will tolerate divers at a distance and may even approach the diver. Having located the home range of this fish the diver, with patience over several dives, can be rewarded by hand feeding it tit-bits such as boiled eggs.
Size: Common: 30 - 70cm, maximum: 100cm.
Colour: Sepia with darker horizontal stripes whilst still underwater, out of water and freshly landed this fish warrants the title of golden grouper.