17/H – Dusky grouper - Epinephelus guaza

Thick, basically oval body, well-developed head and large mouth. Operculi have spikes along the back edge. The dorsal fin is characterized by strong spiky rays in the front, the back is wide and rounded. Its color is generally brownish, with spots and lighter variegated patterns that look like vertical bands. It lives mainly on rocky beds, with caves and ravines, from the surface down to around 100 m deep. It reproduces in the summer when sexually mature individuals have a tendency to group in small areas at a depth of 15-30 m. During growth, after 10-12 years, the sea bass changes sex from female to male. It can exceed 1 m in length.