A large Galapagos endemic grouper, locally the bacalao, much reduced by fishing.
Locally the bacalao, and a Galapagos endemic. Large, heavy-bodied, and the grouper a diver sees most often on the rocky reef. Colour is variable: a mottled brown or grey form is usual, and a pale, almost cream form occurs.
It has been the most important food fish of the islands since settlement, and the population is much reduced. The IUCN category should be given with its assessment year wherever it is cited, and the fishery’s history is more informative than a description of the fish.
Adults hold territory around boulders and ledges and are approachable. Spawning aggregations have been recorded, which historically made the species easy to overfish.
Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.
