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Misty grouper (Hyporthodus mystacinus) — Serranidae

Misty grouper

Hyporthodus mystacinus
Family: Serranidae

The Misty grouper (Hyporthodus mystacinus) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 160 cm.

Length
160 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
30.0–400.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
North America: Antigua Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Virgin Is. (UK) and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The misty grouper is a large grouper (Epinephelidae) from deeper reefs of the Atlantic and eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 1.6 metres and has a robust, dark grey-brown body with faint dark crossbands and large eyes. As a bottom-oriented predator it lives on deep rocky reefs and wrecks and engulfs fish and crustaceans. Many groupers change sex. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Misty grouper?

The Misty grouper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Misty grouper live?

The Misty grouper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. North America: Antigua Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Virgin Is. (UK) and others

How big does the Misty grouper get?

The Misty grouper grows to a maximum of about 160 cm.

Is the Misty grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Misty grouper is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Misty grouper edible?

Yes, the Misty grouper is commonly eaten.

More photos

Misty grouper (Hyporthodus mystacinus) — Serranidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Michael Falk, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Misty grouper (Hyporthodus mystacinus) — Serranidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) IHUNTA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Misty grouper (Hyporthodus mystacinus) — Serranidae — 4
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Misty grouper sourced
Scientific name
Hyporthodus mystacinus
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Black grouper; Convict grouper; Bigeyed grouper; Grouper; Moustache grouper verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
160.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
30.0 verified
Max depth (m)
400.0 verified
Natural range
North America: Antigua Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Virgin Is. (UK) and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hyporthodus

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Fin

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