Snowy Grouper (Hyporthodus niveatus)

Description: Snowy grouper are very territorial and sometimes cannibalistic. They’re capable of eating fish as large as themselves, which is a feat because they can grow to 4 feet in length and weigh up to 50 pounds. Snowy grouper are top predators, eating mostly fishes, squids, and crabs. They are commercially and recreationally important deep reef fish and are highly susceptible to overfishing. Snowy grouper can live to about 30 years old and, like most groupers, they change sex from female to male as they mature.

Geographic Distribution

Figure 1: Relative probability of occurrence of Snowy Grouper (Hyporthodus niveatus) based on computer generated distribution maps. Data source: Aquamaps

Figure 2: Approximate depth range of Snowy Grouper (black box). Slope of seafloor is a generalized representation of the Gulf of Mexico shelf and outer continental shelf.