Tiger grouper

The tiger grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) 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 is found in the warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.

Habitat

The tiger grouper is a solitary species which is found on coral reefs and in rocky areas. It is an ambush predator of smaller fishes. It hides among coral and sponges and is attempts to remain concealed, even when approached. It attaneds the cleaning stations of cleaner fish. The population around Bermuda has a size distribution and sex ratio which suggest that tiger groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites, all of the fish with a total length less than 37 centimetres (15 in) were female and all of the fish with a total length greater than 45 centimetres (18 in) were male. They are found at depths of 3 to 112 metres (9.8 to 367.5 ft). It is known to form spawning aggregations in the northern part of its range but these have not been recorded off Brazil.

Distribution

The tiger grouper is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from southeastern Florida, Bermuda and the Bahamas, as well as the Flower Garden Banks in the north, southwards through the Caribbean Sea to the Maroni River in French Guiana. A disjunct population occurs in Brazil where they are found from Ceara State to Rio de Janeiro State.