Shore Buddies Wisdom Wednesday
The goliath, Epinephelus itajara, is the largest grouper in the western hemisphere, and can reach 8 feet in length and more than 1,000 pounds. A 4.6-foot-long female caught at a spawning aggregation contained 57 million eggs. A 4.6-foot-long female caught at a spawning aggregation contained 57 million eggs. Individuals can travel 100 miles to spawn. Despite having teeth, goliath grouper engulf and swallow prey whole. Goliath grouper can have a lifespan of up to 37 years. A goliath grouper’s age can be estimated using annual growth rings in its dorsal fin rays, much like those found within tree trunks. Forty percent of goliath grouper caught in Belize had mercury levels exceeding the U. S.-recommended levels for human consumption.
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