Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)

The Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is appropriately named, this fish is an absolute brute, a monster, a behemoth. It’s the kind of fish that looks bigger than it rightfully should be. We expect large sizes from sharks, tuna, and billfishes but this fish has a very conventional “fishy” body plan, like you would see in smaller perches, cichlids, or basses, only it is blown up to absurd proportions. Stop by YouTube and watch the various videos of these fish being caught, fed, or dived with and your jaw is guaranteed to drop, no matter how many times you see them they never fail to impress. Today we’re looking at the Safari Ltd. 2015 goliath grouper, an apt addition to their Incredible Creatures line.

The Safari goliath grouper measures 5.75” (14.6 cm) long and 2.5” (6.3 cm) wide. The actual goliath grouper reaches a maximum length of 8.2’ (2.4 meters) and can weigh up to 1,003 lbs. (455 kg) and it is the largest member of the sea bass family in the Atlantic Ocean. The species averages smaller however, at about 400 lbs. (180 kg). Scaled down from the maximum length the Safari grouper comes in at 1/17 in scale.

The goliath grouper ranges from the coast of Florida, throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean and south to Brazil. In the eastern Atlantic they occur along the coasts of Senegal and Congo. They also live around but are rare in the Canary Islands. Another species, the Pacific goliath grouper (Epinephelus quinquefasciatus) was once considered the same species and ranges from the Gulf of California south to Peru and is virtually identical to its Atlantic cousin. The toy does not specify which goliath grouper it is but Safari’s website does.

The Safari goliath is a highly detailed, and spectacular figure, one that you can tell a lot of care and skill went into. The head is appropriately broad, complete with operculum, preopercle, and visible branchiostegal rays. The correct number of 11 dorsal spines and 16 rays are present on the dorsal fin. The anal fin should have 3 spines and 8 soft rays, the number appears correct but only two rays appear to be spiny, it’s hard to tell and of little consequence either way. The body is appropriately robust and elongated with a rounded tail.

Goliath groupers are thought to be protogynous hermaphrodites, they’re all born and mature as females first and change sex to male later in life. Adults, which live near reefs, wrecks, and nearshore areas, are at little risk of predation and consume a wide range of fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods, stingrays, turtles, and sharks. The species was at one time at risk due to overfishing and is listed as vulnerable globally and endangered in the Gulf of Mexico. Since 1990 the species has been protected in the United States.

The Safari grouper is painted in mottled brown color tones. The species can also have yellow, green, and gray coloration and color tends to vary with age as well. Small black spots are painted on the head and pelvic fins while black and white spots are painted along the back and on the dorsal and caudal fin. The eyes are brown with shiny black pupils. The toy is hollow but according to Safari’s web site it may not be watertight.

It is no secret that bony fishes are mostly ignored by western companies, and Safari is guilty of neglecting them as well with only a small handful of offerings. Groupers are members of the seabass family, Serranidae, which contains about 450 species. A few other groupers have been made by Japanese companies, but the Safari goliath grouper is really the only easily accessible option to represent the entirety of this diverse family. For fish and marine life collectors, this figure is a must have and I easily count this flawless figure among my all-time favorites from the company. The Safari goliath grouper is still in production and retails for about $11 USD.