Venezuelan Grouper

The Venezuelan grouper has a body depth which is less than the length of the head. the depth of the body being around one third of the standard length, the body is elongate and robust, and is no deeper at the origin of the dorsal fin than it is at the origin of the anal fin. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 15-17 soft rays and the anal fin contains 3 spines and 10-12 soft rays. The preopercleis serrated and has a distinct lobe at its angle which has enlarged serrations. The caudal fin is slightly concave. The adults are pale greyish brown while the juveniles are greenish brown and are marked with irregular brown spots on the body. The soft rayed part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin has a white margin with a dark submarginal band. This species attains a maximum total length of 114 centimetres (45 in), although they are more commonly around 60 centimetres (24 in), and a maximum published weight of 15 kilograms (33 lb).

The Venezuelan grouper is found in northern South America where its range extends from Santa Marta in Colombia to the Paria Peninsula in Venezuela. It has also been recorded off Port Royal in Jamaica but it is not known whether these represent an established population.