Maximum length: 60 cm

Depth: 1 - 55 m

Dark brown, high-backed body.

Inhabits coral-rich bays and reef slopes, but is also frequently seen on wrecks.

Always close to hiding places and close to the bottom.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 40 cm

Depth: 4 - 55 m

Sometimes changes color to highlight the spots or stripes.

Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

Maximum length: 55 cm

Depth: 1 - 50 m

Sometimes with bright bands (see photo above)

Often seeking cover under overhangs and reef slopes

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 30 cm

Depth: 3 - 20 m

3 to 5 pale to dark spots along the base of the dorsal fin, round caudal fin.

Reddish-brown with red to brown spots scattered all over the body.

Somewhat shy of divers.

Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 40 cm

Depth: 1 - 150 m

Not very shy.

Popular photo subject.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

Maximum length: 50 cm

Depth: 6 - 150 m

Body with dark bands and small blue dots.

It is very rarely found in open water, rather upside down on cave ceilings.

Very shy, immediately retreats deep into its hiding place when approached.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 60 cm

Depth: 1 - 35 m

Reddish to dark spots on all fins and the body.

It can fade drastically to white, but can also become darker.

Inhabits rocky, shallow as well as deep reefs.

Shy in shallow waters, where it often hides in dark niches,

but in deeper reef zones it allows divers to get close to it.

Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Photo 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 40 cm

Depth: 0.5 - 160 m

Black tips on the dorsal fin and *mask cap *

Not very shy.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Photo 2 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 32 cm

Depth: 1 - 125 m

A whitish to pale gray grouper with numerous densely placed round spots of different sizes on the head, body and fins.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 90 cm

Depth: 1 - 60 m

Cautious and shy loner.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

Maximum length: 60 cm

Depth: 3 - 50 m

Black, white border on the tail - anus - and the rear part of the dorsal fin.

Body: Red spots on a white-yellowish background.

Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Photo 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 3 m

Depth: 5 - 100 m

A widespread but rare giant species of at least 300 kg.

This species has often been described as dangerous to humans,

but so far there have been no confirmed, unprovoked attacks.

Injuries always result from feeding the giants by hand.

In contrast, this rare species is threatened by fishing and harpooning in many areas.

Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Oberhausen Germany ( Aquarium )

Maximum length: 1.20 m

Depth: 2 - 100 m

Brightly spotted body with small, black dots.

Lives in sheltered reefs and deltas, where it often lurks on sand or rubble.

Shy loner that feeds on lobsters, squid and fish.

Rarely seen in the Red Sea.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 31 cm

Depth: 1 - 50 m

Found in shallow lagoons and seaward reefs.

They eat fish and crustaceans.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi

Maximum adult length: 35 cm

Depth: 5 - 25 m

Juveniles ( about 10 cm ) are dark brown with numerous small pale yellow to white spots.

Adults are brown, with a few large light spots and many small ones.

Prefers shallow, sheltered coastal reefs and lagoons.

Shy.

Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi

Maximum length: 75 cm

Depth: 1 - 45 m

Black spot on the root of the tail.

During the mating season, the fish will ram its head.

Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

Maximum length: 25 cm

Depth: 10 - 70 m

Very often found in the Maldives.

Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

Maximum length: 38 cm

Depth: 1 - 25 m

It has dark bands on the hind body.

Inhabits sandy areas of shallow rocky reefs.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt.

Maximum length: 52 cm

Depth: 1 - 30 m

White spots on a dark brown background.

Not shy.

Photos 1 - 3 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 70 cm

Depth: 1 - 45 m

Not very shy.

Lies in wait on the sand for prey.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Photo 2 Johnny: El Quesir Egypt

Maximum length: 75 cm

Depth: 3 - 25 m

Mouth corners clearly yellow.

Pectoral fin base and edge pale.

Can have a uniform coloration as well as patterns on the body.

Juvenile form is bicolored.

Shy, sometimes curious.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 100 cm

Depth: 3 - 20 m

Body with nine brown to black transverse "tiger stripes" on a light background.

The coloration can change drastically to pale or dark,

especially at cleaning stations they often become bright red.

Juvenile form: With sexual maturity, the dark bands appear and gradually become more distinct.

Juvenile form: Yellow body.

Photos 1 - 5 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Photo 6 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 100 cm

Depth: 2 - 130 m

This grouper is on the red list of endangered species as of 2024, despite this status it is intensively pursued by commercial and sport fishing.

Found over rocky bottoms and coral reefs.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 73 cm

Depth: 1 - 50 m

Blue dots with a black border.

Travels alone and is very shy.

It hunts small fish.

Photo 1 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 90 cm

Depth: 10 - 150 m+

A wide-ranging species with light and dark color phases.

Solitary and very shy.

Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives

Maximum length: 1.1 m

Depth: 3 - 50 m

Variable coloration: red to brown with blue spots and stripes.

When they are excited they show light-colored saddles.

They are found on outer reef slopes, lagoons, seagrass beds and in wrecks.

Prey: Fish and pipe eels.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 80 cm

Depth: 1 - 150 m

Sickle tail with yellow edge.

Inhabits lagoons, outer reefs and channels.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Photo 2 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt