Black grouper
Mycteroperca bonaci
Mycteroperca bonaci, the black grouper, black rockfish or marbled rockfish, 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. Other fish are sometimes called the black grouper including the similar gag grouper, the misty grouper, and the warsaw grouper.
36
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycteroperca_bonaci
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Perciformes
Family
Serranidae
Genus
Mycteroperca
Black grouper belongs to the family Serranidae, order Perciformes, within the unknown class.
Species Profile
Mycteroperca bonaci, the black grouper, black rockfish or marbled rockfish, 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. Other fish are sometimes called the black grouper including the similar gag grouper, the misty grouper, and the warsaw grouper. This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to Brazil.
Black grouper populations face significant pressure from intensive commercial and recreational fishing throughout their range, with their slow growth rates and late sexual maturity making them particularly vulnerable to overexploitation. Habitat degradation of coral reefs and rocky bottoms, combined with their aggregating spawning behavior that makes them easy targets during reproduction, has contributed to substantial population declines across the Caribbean and western Atlantic.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Black grouper inhabit coral reefs, rocky bottoms, and reef drop-offs in tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic, typically found at depths ranging from 10 to 100 meters. Adults prefer deeper reef areas and rocky ledges, while juveniles often utilize shallow coral reef environments and seagrass beds as nursery habitat.
Threats
Coral reef habitat degradation
Overfishing and targeted exploitation
Spawning aggregation site disruption
Climate change impacts on reef ecosystems
Slow reproductive rate and late maturity
Found in 36 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/black-grouper