Tiger Grouper at Grunt Valley Reef, Cayman Brac

 

Tiger Grouper

Tiger Grouper Info

The Tiger Grouper is a large and beautiful lurk-and-lunge hunter. Like other lurk-and-lunge hunters, the Tiger Grouper catches its prey by finding a hiding place in the reef and then waiting patiently for an unsuspecting small fish to swim nearby. Then, with a quick lunge, it opens its jaws to swallow its meal in an easy gulp. Many species of Sea Bass are lurk-and-lunge hunters, including Graysbys, Red Hinds, and Nassau Groupers.

This Tiger Grouper waited patiently in a small gully between two coral heads. It may have been waiting to be cleaned by a shrimp or a goby; animals that provide cleaning services to groupers and other large reef fishes.

Back to ReefNews Photo Gallery Volume 5:
The Best of ReefNews 1999-2000

Dr. Jonathan Dowell took this picture using a Nikonos V with 35mm lens and SB105 strobe. This photo was taken during Dr. Dowell's participation in the Nikon School of Underwater Photography, Divi Tiara Resort, Cayman Brac, March 2000.


This webpage, picture, and graphics are
Copyright © 2001, ReefNews ®, Inc.
95 Obsidian Loop
Los Alamos, NM 87544

All Rights Reserved.