Try And Identify The Mysterious Object Embedded Onto This Grouper

Grouper are plentiful in the Caribbean and they are often found in the shallows and also in deeper water along walls and droppoffs. Divers find them interesting to watch and to photograph. The feeling is mutual, as the groupers will often approach scuba divers out of curiosity and to try to catch a smaller fish that might be near them. They routinely follow divers and move casually among them. It is not unusual to have one come almost close enough to touch.

What was unusual about this large Nassau grouper was what was growing on his side. It first appeared to be some sort of lamprey eel type creature. But closer inspection revealed that it looked more like a plant or a gorgonian coral (soft coral that looks like a plant) that had become attached to the side of the fish. Gorgonian coral grows well with moderate current and the fish's movement would not cause any problems for the coral's survival. Considering the slow rate of growth, it seems unlikely that a piece of coral could grow to this length on a fish. It is also a mystery how coral could attach to a fish and stay there. The same questions come to mind for a plant to be growing on the side of a grouper.

Part of the object appears to be stringy, as if it could be a piece of fishing line with a hook that became imbedded in the fish and then something formed on the line and grew.

This particular Nassau grouper is approximately 2 feet long and weighs roughly 30lbs. He definitely seems to be thriving, unaffected by whatever the mysterious object is that trails from his side. He was found on a wall dive on the south side of Little Cayman island in 70 feet of water.

If anyone has any theories on what this could be, please comment on the video or share it with anyone who may be able to answer the question.