Goliath grouper are some of the biggest fish in the sea—they can grow more than eight feet long and weigh up to 800 lbs! Goliath grouper also has a big presence in a healthy coral reef ecosystem, as they help maintain balance as a top predator. They use their large mouths to suck in whole fish or invertebrates, then swallow them right away.

Although goliath groupers are solitary most of the time, they gather in large numbers during breeding season. They use the lunar cycle as their guide and spawn between July and September. When it’s time to spawn, they gather in massive groups of 100 or more individuals then participate in broadcast spawning, meaning the males release sperm and the females release eggs into the water column at the same time. After they’re fertilized, the eggs drift around in the currents until they finally hatch.