Nassau grouper

Photo: Melissa Foo · CC BY-NC

Nassau grouper are large protogynous hermaphrodites — females change sex to male as they mature — and are an important apex predator on Caribbean reefs. The North Wall population is relatively healthy compared to much of the Caribbean, where the species is critically endangered due to overfishing at spawning aggregations. Their distinctive ability to rapidly change colour patterns from pale tan to dark brown stripes aids in camouflage and social signalling during territorial interactions.