This group of fishes consists of strong, well-built, “bass-like” bodies. They have large mouths and lips, and a jutting lower jaw. The long, continuous dorsal fin is noticeably divided into two parts. The fore portion is constructed of sharp spines that can be held erect or lowered. The rear portion is soft and quite flexible.
This group consists of the following families:
Groupers/Sea Basses – Serranidae
Goliath Grouper – Epinephelus itajara
Nassau Grouper –Epinephelus striatus
Red Grouper – Epinephelus morio
Misty Grouper – Epinephelus mystacinus
Snowy Grouper – Epinephelus niveatus
Peacock Grouper – Cephalopholis argus
Marbled Grouper – Epinephelus inermis
Grasby – Cephalopholis cruentatus
India Coral Grouper – Plectropomus pessuliferus
Red Hind – Epinephelus guttatus
Rock Hind – Epinephelus adscensionis
Coney – Cephalopholis fulva
Masked Grouper – Gracila albomarginata
Black Grouper – Mycteroperca bonaci
Scamp – Myteroperca phenax
Tiger Grouper – Mycteroperca tigris
White Grouper – Mycteroperca interstitialis
Yellowmouth Grouper – Mycteroperca interstitialis
Yellowfin Grouper – Mycteroperca venenosa
Gag – Mycteroperca microlepis
Basses – Serranidae
Comb Grouper – Mycteroperca acutirostris
Bank Sea Bass – Centropristis ocyurus
Black Sea Bass – Centropristis striata
Sand Perch – Diplectrum formosum
Harlequin Bass – Serranus tigrinus
Lantern Bass – Serranus baldwini
Twinspot Bass – Serranus flaviventris
Snow Bass – Serranus chionaraia
Belted Sandfish – Serranus subligarius
Tattler Bass – Serranus phoebe
Saddle Bass – Serranus notospilus
Vieja – Serranus dewegeri
Tobaccofish – Serranus tabacarius
Orangeback Bass – Serranus annularis
Chalk Bass – Serranus tortugarum
Peppermint Basslet – Liopropoma rubre
Candy Basslet – Liopropoma carmabi
Cave Basslet – Liopropoma mowbrayi
Wrasse Basslet – Liopropoma eukrines
Pygmy Sea Bass – Serraniculus pumilio
Bantam Bass – Paraphyraenops incisus
School Bass – Schultzea beta
Mutton Hamlet – Alphestes afer
Creolefish – Paranthias furcifer
Soapfishes – Grammistinae
Greater Soapfish – Rypticus saponaceus
Whitespotted Soapfish – Rypticus maculatus
Spotted Soapfish – Rypticus subbifrenatus
Freckled Soapfish – Rypticus bistrispinus
Basslets – Grammatidae
Yellowcheek Basslet – Gramma linki
Fairy Basslet – Gramma loreto
Blackcap Basslet – Gramma melacara
Threeline Basslet – Lipogramma trilineatum
For more information see: Steven W Smeltzer Underwater Photography