but lacks numerous head spines and is not venomous (fin spines); found throughout the region; Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 15 cm.
3 BROWN-BANDED ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis boenack Bloch, 1790
Inhabits dead reefs in protected inshore waters; distinguished by overall brown colour with faint dark bars on sides and large blackish spot at rear of gill cover; formerly known as C. pachycentron; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 22 cm.
★★
4 PEACOCK ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis argus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Inhabits caves and crevices of coral reefs; distinguished by numerous dark-edged blue spots on head, body and fins, also by whitish area in front of pectoral fin and 5-6 pale bars on posterior part of body frequently present; N.W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 50 cm.
★★★
5 CORAL COD
Cephalopholis miniata (Forsskål, 1775)
Inhabits caves and crevices of coral reefs; distinguished by numerous blue spots on orange-red to red-brown background; also known as Coral trout; found throughout the region; Indo-W. Pacific; to 41 cm; 1.6 kg.
★★★
6 BLUE-LINED ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis formosa (Shaw & Nodder, 1812)
Inhabits inshore coral reefs; distinguished by narrow dark blue stripes on head, body, and fins; N.W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 33 cm.
★★★
7 RED-SPOTTED ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis leopardus (Lacepède, 1801)
Inhabits caves and crevices of coral reefs; distinguished by oblique dark streaks on upper and lower lobe of tail, dark patch on upper edge of tail base, and dark spot at rear of gill cover; N.W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 20 cm.
★★
8 TOMATO ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis sonnerati (Valenciennes, 1828)
Inhabits coral and rock reefs, adults often in deep water (30-100 m); distinguished by orange-red to reddish brown colour, frequently with scattered whitish blotches; a brown variety is shown on Plate 23 (12); juveniles are pale pinkish (see opposite Plate); N.W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 58 cm.
★★★
9 FLAG-TAILED ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis urodeta (Schneider, 1801)
Inhabits coral reef crevices, distinguished by pale oblique streaks on lobes of tail; found throughout the region; Indo-C. Pacific; to 23 cm.
★★
10 BARRAMUNDI COD
Cromileptes altivelis (Valenciennes, 1828)
Inhabits caves and crevices of coral reefs; distinguished by small head, laterally compressed body and polkadot pattern; N.W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific, to 70 cm and 4.8 kg.
★★★★
11 COOPER’S FAIRY BASSLET
Pseudanthias cooperi (Regan, 1902)
Inhabits offshore reefs to at least 160 m depth; male (shown here) has red spot on sides and elongate filaments on pelvic, anal, and tail fins; female lacks these features and has a red spot on the tip of each lobe of the tail; N.W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 13 cm.
12 PEARL-SPOTTED FAIRY BASSLET
Selenanthias analis Tanaka, 1918
Inhabits offshore trawling grounds; distinguished by pearly spots on sides and black spot on anal fin; N. Australia and Japan to Taiwan; to 16 cm.
13 CITRON PERCHLET
Plectranthias megalophthalmus Fourmanoir & Randall, 1979
Inhabits deep offshore trawling grounds to 360 m depth; distinguished by yellow colouration; New Caledonia and N.W. Australia; to 8 cm.
14 SPOTTED PERCHLET
Plectranthias wheeleri Randall, 1980
Inhabits deep offshore trawling ground to 230 m; distinguished by irregular blotches on sides; found throughout the region; Australia and Indonesia; to 10 cm.
15 JAPANESE PERCHLET
Plectranthias japonicus (Steindachner, 1884)
Inhabits deep trawling grounds to at least 200 m; distinguished by red-orange colouration, sometimes with darker blotches on sides; N.W. Australia and Japan; to 15 cm.
INTRODUCTION TO ROCKCODS
Rockcods and their relatives in the groper family (Serranidae) are a dominant element of the fish community on all coral reefs, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The larger species are important table fish at many localities and the small schooling members, for instance the numerous Anthias (or Fairy Basslets) no doubt play an important role in the reef’s food chain. Members of the genus Cephalopholis are small to medium-sized gropers (also know as Cods or Rockcods in Australia) that occur in a variety of coral reef habitats. The Coral Cod (5), with its bright red coat studded with blue spots, is among the most colourful species. It grows to a reported length of 41 cm and is most often encountered in clear water of outer reefs to depths of at least 150 m. Like most of the larger groupers it feeds mainly on small fishes, supplemented by crustaceans. Feeding occurs mainly during the early morning and mid afternoon. The favourite food appears to be small, schooling Anthias, which are skilfully captured with a quick head on rush.
PLATE 23: GROPERS (FAMILY SERRANIDAE)
1 RED-FLUSHED ROCKCOD
Aethaloperca rogaa (Forsskål, 1775)
Inhabits coral reefs in the vicinity of caves; distinguished by elevated shape of body, dark colouration and white edge on tail; N.W. Australia, Great Barrier Reef, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-W. Pacific; to 60 cm.
★★★
2 BLUNT-HEADED ROCKCOD
Epinephelus amblycephalus (Bleeker, 1857)
Inhabits deeper offshore reefs; distinguished by 5 dark bars on body; N.W. Australia and throughout S.E. Asia; mainly Indo-Australian Archipelago; to 45 cm.
★★★
3 YELLOW-SPOTTED ROCKCOD
