Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

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Mycteroperca olfax (Jenyns, 1840)

bacalao, bacalao rey, Galápagos grouper, golden grouper, Bacalao

Golden Grouper (Mycteroperca olfax) near Floreana Island, Galapagos. Photo: Salome Buglass, FCD.
Golden Grouper (Mycteroperca olfax) near Floreana Island, Galapagos. Photo: Salome Buglass, FCD.

Gray phase often displays about 10 faint body bars; belly lighter shade. Up to 1m total length.

Habitat: Open waters near the bottom or near vertical walls. The numbers of Bacalao have been dramatically reduced over recent years, we attribute this to local fishing pressure.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Teleostei

Order
Perciformes

Family
Serranidae

Genus
Mycteroperca

Species
olfax

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Mycteroperca olfax ruberrima Jordan & Bollman, 1890, Serranus olfax Jenyns, 1840, fide Appeltans et al. (2010)

Taxon origin: Native

Status

Endangered

Distribution

Distribution: Eastern tropical Pacific from Peru, and Cocos, Malpelo and Ecuador (Galapagos).

References

  • Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
  • Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
  • Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
  • IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
  • Bertoncini, A.A. Gerhardinger, L.C., Sadovy, Y., Rocha, L., Choat, J.H., Ferreira, B. & Craig, M. (2008) Mycteroperca olfax www.iucnredlist.org
  • McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
  • Gelin, A. Gravez, V. (2002) Lagunas costeras. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 119-145.
  • Edgar, G.J. Fariña, J.M., Calvopiña, M., Martínez, C. & Banks, S. (2002) Comunidades submareales rocosas II: Peces y macroinvertebrados móviles. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 68-97.
  • Banks, S. Vera, M. & Chiriboga, A. (2009) Establishing Reference Points to Assess Long-Term Change in Zooxanthellate Coral Communities of the Northern Galapagos Coral Reefs. J. Sci. Conserv. in the Galapagos Islands, p. 43-64.
  • Constant, P. (2007) Marine Life of the Galapagos. The Diver's guide to Fishes, Whales, Dolphins and marine Invertebrates, 307 pp.
  • IUCN (2023) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2022-2 Https://www.iucnredlist.org
  • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2023) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2023-1. Https://www.iucnredlist.org.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging the origin of the data.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Mycteroperca olfax", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7790. Accessed 18 April 2024.