Black grouper

Photo: Edgar Castañeda · CC BY-NC

The black grouper is an ambush predator that uses the complex structure of the pinnacle summit to lie in wait for passing reef fish. As a protogynous hermaphrodite, individuals begin life as females and the largest, oldest fish transition to male — a reproductive strategy that makes removal of large individuals particularly damaging to populations. Healthy grouper biomass on The Pinnacle reflects Corn Islands' effective low-fishing pressure.