Black Grouper
Epinephelus tukula
The potato grouper, also known as the potato cod or potato bass, is a marine ray-finned fish and a grouper of the subfamily Epinephelinae within the family Serranidae, which also takes in the anthias and sea basses. It is broadly distributed across the Indo-Pacific.
Family
Serranidae
Avg Size
100-200 cm
Habitat
Potato groupers inhabit coral reefs, favouring reef channels and the areas around sea mounts where currents run strong. Juveniles keep to shallow water and often turn up in tidal pools on the reef, while adults occupy depths between 10 and 150 metres (33 and 492 ft). Solitary by nature, they generally stay within a relatively small home range.
Behaviour
The potato grouper is a solitary ambush predator that hunts small rays, crabs, fish, squid, octopuses, and spiny lobsters. Using the coral as cover, it hides from its prey and lunges once a target comes within reach, swallowing it whole. It is aggressive in defending its territory, although the range it patrols is fairly small.
Where & When to See It
Shaab Maksur
The Canyon
The Caves
The Islands
North Ras Abu Galum
Eel Gardens
Shaab Sataya
Three Pools
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Ras Abu Helal
Lighthouse
Abu Ghalawa
Napoleon Reef
Shaab Claudia
South Ras Abu Galum
Blue Hole - El Bells
North Gabr El Bint
Small Giftun
Sodfa
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar North
Abu Nuhas
Abu Ramada North
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Big Giftun
Bluff Point
Careless Reef
Carnatic
Chrisoula K
Daedalus Reef
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Eel Garden
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Fanous West
El Mina Wreck
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Fury Shoals
Gota Abu Ramada
Gota Soraya
Habili Gaffar
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Middle Garden
Near Garden
Panorama Reef
Pinky Wall
Ras Burg
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Abu Dabbab
Ras Katy
Ras Nasrani
Ras Um Sid
Rocky Island
Rosalie Moller
Salem Express
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Eissa
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Petra
Shaab Sabina
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark Observatory
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Soma Bay Garden
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Ulysses
Thistlegorm
Thomas Reef
Tower
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Bay
Umm Gamar South
Umm Kharalim
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Zabargad Island
Ras Bob
Ras Ghozlani
Abu Hashish
Abu Kifan
Abu Ramada South
Elphinstone
Erg Sabina
Giannis D
Gordon Reef
Gota Kebir
Habili Ali
Kimon M
Paradise
Ras Zaatar
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Shaab Eshta
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark's Bay