The Gag Grouper is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction. Spawning occurs in the spring with fertilized pelagic eggs hatching within 48 hours of release. They are protogynous hermaphrodites with females changing to males at mid-life. In turn they are preyed upon by sharks and other large fish juveniles can also fall prey to cannibalism by the adults. They are voracious predators feeding on cephalopods, crabs, fish and shrimp. They are either solitary individuals or found in groups of 5 to 50 individuals. The corresponding record for length stood at 89 cm (2 feet 11 inches) with the fish caught from coastal waters off St. As of March 31, 2022, the International Game Fish Association world record for weight stood at 36.5 kg (80 lbs 8 oz) with the fish caught from coastal waters off Destin, Florida in October 1993. They reach a maximum of 1.45 m (4 feet 9 inches) in length and 36.5 kg (80 8 oz) in weight. The Gag Grouper is found in both brackish and offshore marine waters within rocky bottoms at depths up to 152 m (500 feet). They have long heads with a large mouth featuring a protruding lower jaw and two large canine teeth at the front. Their anal and caudal fins have white margins and their caudal, soft dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins are dark gray. Large males are overall pale to medium gray with very limited markings below the dorsal fin and dark gray to black ventrally. Their anal, caudal, and dorsal fins have dark blue-black margins. Juveniles and mature females are pale to brown-gray with dark blotches and worm-shaped markings affording them a marbled appearance. The Gag Grouper has an oblong-shaped body, that vary in color depending on maturity and sex. Globally, there are fifteen species in the genus Mycteroperca, of which eleven are found in Mexican waters, seven in the Atlantic and four in the Pacific Ocean. The Gag Grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis, is a member of the Grouper or Epinephelidae Family, and is known in Mexico as abadejo. Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (), Gaylord, Michigan. Fish caught from coastal waters off Clearwater, Florida, March 2012, Length: 76 cm (2 feet 6 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Eli (). Fish caught from coastal waters off Clearwater, Florida, March 2012, Length: 51 cm (20 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Dean Kimberly, Atlanta, Georgia. Fish caught from coastal waters off Key West, Florida, August 2014, Length: 36 cm (14 inches). Gag Grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis, Juvenile. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Marc Eberlein, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fish caught from coastal waters off the Sanibel Island, Florida, February 2017. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Luke Ovgard, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Fish caught out from coastal waters off Big Pine Key, Florida, April 2020. Terrestrial Life – Alphabetical Index by Family.Terrestrial Life – Alphabetical Index by Common Name.Terrestrial Life – Alphabetical Index by Genus and Species.Shells – Alphabetical Index by Genus and Species.Shells – Alphabetical Index by Common Name.Other Marine Life – Alphabetical Index by Family with Photographs.Other Marine Life – Alphabetical Index by Family.Other Marine Life – Alphabetical Index by Genus and Species.Other Marine Life – Alphabetical Index by Common Name.Fish Weight From Length Conversion Tables.Fish – Alphabetical Index by Genus and Species.Fish – Alphabetical Index by Common Name.Crabs – Alphabetical Index by Genus and Species.Crabs – Alphabetical Index by Common Name.Birds – Family Photos – Tanagers to Wrens.Birds – Family Photos – Mockingbirds to Swallows.Birds – Family Photos – Eagles to Kingfisher.Birds – Family Photos – Anhinga to Ducks.
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