| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Epinephelidae | Mycteroperca phenax | Jordan & Swain | 1884 | Scamp |
All Mycteroperca Species: Dorsal fin with 10 or 11 spines and 13-19 rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 10-13 rays. Most of upper edge of operculum free, not connected by skin to body. Caudal fin rounded or truncate. Head larger, its length contained 2.3-3.3 times in standard length; body depth usually not greater than head length, 2.5-3.6 times in standard length. Preopercle without a large antrorse spine in most species, but there may a few enlarged, ventrally-directed serrae there; middle opercle spine not reaching edge of operculum. Front nostrils variously shaped, but always closer to rear nostrils than to upper lip. A thin, moveable supramaxilla bone along upper, rear edge of maxilla (supramaxilla is covered by skin and not obvious, but it can be discerned by pushing the upper edge of the maxilla with a fingernail or dissecting needle; the supramaxilla is more apparent if the skin is cut and peeled off the free, rear part of the maxilla). Most teeth depressible (hinged). Scaly flap of skin joining upper part of inner (posterior) side of pectoral-fin base to body. Soft dorsal and anal fins mostly covered with thick skin and scales; scales on body small; midlateral body scales rough or smooth. Lateral scale series (69-146) more numerous than lateral-line scales. Snout longer than eye diameter (FAO 2002).
Mycteroperca phenax
Unique Characteristics: Preopercle (of fish larger than 30 cm) with a distinct notch above the serrate lobe at angle. Some median fin rays produced beyond fin membranes in large adults. Lateral-line scales 70-82; lateral-scale series 108-128. Total gill rakers on first arch 27-41. Exserted caudal-fin rays (present only in adults) uneven (FAO 2002).
Similar Species:
Mycteroperca bonaci, Black Grouper
Black Grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci. Preopercle edge without a distinct notch or lobe. Developed gill rakers on lower limb of first arch 9-16; total gill rakers on first arch 17-24. No exserted fin rays. Pectoral fins of adults with narrow orange or white margin that shades gradually into rest of fin; sides of head and body ventrally with yellowish brown spots surrounded by a pale blue network. Rear nostrils not much larger than front nostrils (FAO 2002).
Mycteroperca interstitialis, Yellowmouth Grouper
Yellowmouth Grouper, Mycteroperca interstitialis. Preopercle (of fish larger than 30 cm) with a distinct notch above the serrate lobe at angle. Some median fin rays produced beyond fin membranes in large adults. Lateral-line scales 70-82; lateral-scale series 108-128. Total gill rakers on first arch 23-27. Dorsal 1/2 of body with small close-set brown spots; large adults almost uniform brown dorsally; pectoral fins dark with white margin; mouth and spinous dorsal-fin margin yellow; juveniles bicolored, dark above and light below. Exserted rays (of adults) project equally beyond caudal-fin membrane. Pelvic-fin 15-17% standard length (FAO 2002).
Mycteroperca microlepis, Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis. Preopercle (of fish larger than 30 cm) with a distinct notch above the serrate lobe at angle. Median fins of adults without exserted rays. Head and body brownish or grey, with dark blotches or mottling on sides and dorsally; ventral parts generally pale, but large males often have a dark grey swath from above pelvic fins to underside of caudal peduncle. Lateral line scales 88-96; lateral-scale series 128- 146 (FAO 2002).
Mycteroperca tigris, Tiger Grouper
Tiger Grouper Mycteroperca tigris. Total gill rakers on first arch 11-41; developed gill rakers on lower-limb of first arch 4-8. Body depth 2.9-3.6 times in standard length. Preopercle edge without a distinct notch or lobe. Body with about 8 or 9 pale oblique lines dorsally, continued below into a pale reticulate pattern. Median fin rays exserted in large adults (FAO 2002).
Mycteroperca venenosa, Yellowfin Grouper
Yellowfin Grouper, Mycteroperca venenosa. Preopercle edge without a distinct notch or lobe. Developed gill rakers on lower limb of first arch 9-16; total gill rakers on first arch 24-27. No exserted fin rays. Adults with distal third of pectoral fins bright yellow, sharply demarcated from rest of fin; small red spots on lower part of head and body. Rear nostrils about twice size of front nostrils (FAO 2002).
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