Goliath Grouper
Epinephelus itajara
A reef giant with a vacuum-powered gulp.
Goliath Groupers are enormous, thick-bodied fish that rest around reefs, wrecks, and ledges. A sudden opening of the mouth creates suction strong enough to sweep prey inside.
Find this SeaPal in the card gallery
From field guide to game table
Bring this Goliath Grouper home
See which ready-to-play decks feature this SeaPal. Try one in the simulator before you buy, or explore each full deck list.
- 2 copies
Ready-to-play deck
Disruption Deck
Includes 2 cards featuring Goliath Grouper.
- 1 copy
Ready-to-play deck
Coral Garden Deck
Includes 1 card featuring Goliath Grouper.
Quick dive
Creature passport
- Home
- Western Atlantic reefs and wrecks; juveniles grow in mangrove nurseries.
- Favorite foods
- Crabs, lobsters, fishes, octopuses, and other large reef prey.
- Size check
- Up to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and 800 lb (363 kg)
Tell-your-friends facts
Four wonderfully wild things
- 1
Goliath Groupers can make booming sounds with their swim bladders.
- 2
Young fish spend several years among tangled mangrove roots.
- 3
Adults gather at special offshore sites to spawn.
- 4
Despite the teeth, suction does most of the work when catching prey.
Ocean superpower
Built to be amazing
It expands its mouth and throat into a powerful underwater vacuum.
Junior scientist tip
What should I look for?
Look for a huge rounded fish with small dark spots and broad fins.
Grown-up research links
We used trusted science organizations to check this profile.