Giant Grouper

Photo: Ian Banks · CC BY-NC

Giant groupers are the largest bony fish inhabiting coral reefs, capable of reaching over 2.5 metres and 400 kg, and are apex predators that consume fish, octopus, crustaceans, and occasionally small sharks and sea turtles. At Aldabra they occupy prominent territories on the channel walls, sitting motionless in wait for prey to pass within strike range before engulfing victims with their cavernous mouths. Their extreme longevity and slow growth make them highly vulnerable to fishing pressure and their abundance at Aldabra is a direct consequence of the atoll's near-total protection.