Family Serranidae
Groupers and Sea Basses
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned)
Order: Perciformes


Key Features:Although broadly characterized as large to massive fish, most groupers are actually relatively small.  This is a characteristic carried over to the Sea of Cortez species.  While several of the mammoth species are present including those from the genus Epinephelus which can reach a length of eight feet and grow up to seven hundred pounds.  The majority are less than two feet in length.  Lacking few distinguishing characteristics, groupers and sea basses are broad ranging and highly generalized predators, similar to the snappers (Lutjanidae). 

Among the distinguishing features of groupers, serranids show a complete lateral line, three spines on the opercle with serrated pre-opercle, well-developed scales, and a caudal fin that is usually rounded.  They most closely resemble snappers and grunts, but may be differentiated from each of these families by examining the maxillary bone of the upper jaw, which slips under the cheekbone in snappers and grunts, but not in groupers. 

There is tremendous diversity in the groupers and sea basses of the Sea of Cortez.  Worldwide, there are 62 genera containing about 450 species.  There are 38 species in the Sea of Cortez.    

Notable Species in the Sea of Cortez

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

Spotted Sand Bass

Paralabrax auroguttatus

Goldspotted Sand Bass

Paralabrax loro

Parrot Sand Bass

Serranus psittacinus

Barred Serrano

Alphestes immaculatus

Pacific Mutton Hamlet

Dermatolepis dermatolepis

Leather Bass

Cephalopholis panamensis

Panama Grasby

Epinephelus acanthistius

Gulf Coney

Epinephelus itajara

Jewfish

Epinephelus labriformis

Flag Cabrilla

Epinephelus analogus

Spotted Cabrilla

Mycteroperca jordani

Gulf Grouper

Mycteroperca rosacea

Leopard (Golden) Grouper

Mycteroperca xenarcha

Broomtail Grouper

Paranthias colonus

Pacific Creolefish

Rypticus bicolor

Mottled Soapfish

Rypticus nigripinnis

Twice-Spotted Soapfish