ABSTRACT
Epinephelid groupers occur worldwide in subtropical and tropical seas, where they represent important fishery resources. Species in this family exhibit great interspecific variability in sexual pattern, reproductive behaviour, and gonadal development. Studies on these topics have been conducted in the last five decades using several tools and techniques. Most of these studies sought to provide information to assist management and conservation of endangered or overfished grouper species. As with most marine fish, species-specific data is required, because reproductive life-history traits are variable both within and among grouper species. Thus, in such a speciose group, it is expected that substantial knowledge gaps still remain on reproductive biology of groupers.
This chapter summarizes information on sexual pattern, gonad development, and spawning periodicity, including sexual behavior and reproductive aggregation of groupers, providing an up-to-date overview of these emblematic teleosts.
