These fish have a distinct rounded-triangular pupil
Graysbies are a type of grouper found in the western Atlantic Ocean. They are found throughout South Florida, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Gulf of Mexico. Some report its presence as far south as Brazil. They can be found as far north as the Carolinas on the East Coast of the United States.
These fish have a distinct rounded-triangular pupil with an orangish ring around it. There are many similar looking groupers in the Caribbean. The best way to identify this fish is to look for the three to five spots that run along the dorsal fin. These can be pale spots (like the ones in this photo) or dark spots. Another distinct feature is their rounded tail.
As a juvenile, the graysby has a distinct white line that runs from the bottom lip to the dorsal fin area. If you look closely, you will notice a yellow tint near the top of the graysby. This is also a feature of a juvenile graysby. This yellow coloration fades as it becomes an adult. The faint blue lines on its face also fade with maturity. The red spots all over their body remain a lifelong feature of this fish. It looks like a fish that caught chicken pox!
You can find these fish commonly where I took this photograph, in the Florida Keys. Graysbies live near coral reefs and use the crevices of the reef as protection. Sometimes you will see them perched motionless on the sea floor, using their camouflage to avoid being seen. As a diver, if you approach these fish slowly, you can get close. If you approach quickly, you will likely spook them into retreating. Since graysbies are nocturnal, you will notice they are less active during the day. At night, these fish become predators to other fish. Smaller juveniles, like in the gallery photograph, will mainly feed on shrimp.
These ornate groupers grow to a maximum length of about a foot. Most adults get to around six to ten inches long. The juvenile graysby in this photo is about four or five inches long. Like other Caribbean fish, these fish spawn in August and September. A male graysby will defend a harem of female graysbies. Typically, the ratio is one male to six females. When it comes time to spawn, a single female graysby can release between 260-600 eggs! The males will then release their seminal fluid to fertilize the eggs.
A male graysby will defend a harem of female graysbies
Did you know?
- Graysbies are also known as Kitty Mitchell.
- Although graysbies can be considered a predator, they are not at the top of the food chain. Sharks, barracudas, and other large grouper prey upon graysbies.
- Some graysbies hunt alongside moray eels at night. The moray eels typically spook reef fish from their hiding holes in the reef, making them easy prey for the trailing graysby. This is called nuclear hunting.
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