Leopard Grouper

Photo: Ismael Orozco Salinas · CC BY-NC

Leopard grouper are the apex reef predator at Los Candeleros, identifiable by their orange-spotted, tawny flanks and the bold black smudge behind each pectoral fin. They are endemic to the Gulf of California and are considered a keystone species whose abundance indicates a healthy, unextracted reef system — their presence at Los Candeleros in good numbers reflects the protected status of the national park. Grouper change sex from female to male as they grow, and the largest individuals at this site are dominant males that have occupied the same territory for years.