My son, Mark Allen, who is a keen diver and naturalist, capably assisted with field work at Madang on three occasions.
Numerous scientists in Australia and overseas have contributed taxonomic knowledge resulting in a better understanding of the region’s fish fauna, either through publications or by direct assistance with problematical identifications. Those particularly helpful in this regard included Doug Hoese, Jeff Leis, and John Paxton (Australian Museum), Rudie Kuiter and Martin Gomon (Museum of Victoria), Barry Russell and Helen Larson (Northern Territory Museum), Roily McKay (Queensland Museum), Peter Last (CSIRO Fisheries, Hobart, Tasmania), Tony Gill (Natural History Museum, London), Ronald Fricke (Natural History Museum, Stuttgart), William Eschmeyer and John McCosker (California Academy of Sciences), Ed Murdy, Jeff Williams, and Victor Springer (Smithsonian Institution), Theodore Pietsch (University of Washington), Stuart Poss (Gulf Coast Research Lab, U.S.A.), Jack Randall, Richard Pyle, and Arnold Suzimoto (Bishop Museum, Honolulu), Bill Smith-Vaniz (National Biological Science Centre, Gainesville, Florida) and Richard Winterbottom (Royal Ontario Museum).
Finally, this guide to the region’s fishes would not have been possible without the wonderful artwork of Jill Ruse and Roger Swainston. It has been a great pleasure working with both of these highly talented artists.
GUIDE TO FAMILIES
The following pages contain outline drawings of typical members of the families contained in the book. Scientific family names are indicated below each drawing and the Plate number is given in parentheses
PLATE 26: GROPERS (FAMILY SERRANIDAE)
1 THINSPINE ROCKCOD
Gracila albomarginata (Fowler & Bean, 1930)
Inhabits outer slopes in 15-100 m; usually swims a short distance above the bottom; distinguished by large squarish white blotch on upper side and black spot at base of tail; juveniles plain with brilliant red markings on fins; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific. to 40 cm.
★★★
2 DOTHEAD ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis microprion (Bleeker, 1852)
Inhabits inshore reefs, common on shallow silty reefs; distinguished by plain brown body and numerous small blue spots on head and breast; N. Great Barrier Reef and throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific to Andaman Sea; to 23 cm.
★★
3 GARISH ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis igarashiensis Katayama, 1957
Inhabits deeper reef areas, generally between 60-250 m; distinguished by bright pattern of yellow, red, and orange bars; S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to 43 cm.
★★★
4 STRAWBERRY ROCK COD
Cephalopholis spiloparaea (Valenciennes, 1828) Inhabits steep outer reef slopes, usually in about 15-100 m depth; appears plain grey brown underwater, but is actually bright red orange with diagonal white markings near edge of tail; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 22 cm.
5 SIX-BLOTCH ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis sexmaculata (Rüppell, 1830)
Inhabits caves and ledges, usually seen on outer reef slopes below 10 m depth; distinguished by combination of bright red colouration, brilliant blue spots and lines, and series of dark bars on side that are darkest on upper back; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 47 cm.
★★★
6 BLUE-SPOTTED ROCKCOD
Cephalopholis cyanostigma (Valenciennes, 1828) Inhabits coral reefs, often in lagoons or seagrass beds; distinguished by brown or orange-brown colouration with numerous blue spots on head, body, and fins, a white “halo” surrounding each spot on body; juveniles are plain grey brown with yellow fins; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific; to 35 cm.
★★★
7 TROUT COD
Epinephelus maculatus (Bloch, 1790)
Inhabits coral reefs, usually seen around coral bommies in lagoons; distinguished by overall dark grey colouration, pattern of dark spotting, and white saddles on forehead, middle of dorsal fin, and sometimes on uppertail base; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; W. Pacific to Samoa and Marshall Islands; to 50 cm.
★★★
8 BLUE MAORI COD
Epinephelus cyanopodus (Richardson, 1846)
Inhabits sandy areas near coral reefs, usually in protected lagoons; distinguished by general pale colouration and numeroussmall dark spots on head, body, and fins; juveniles mainly yellow with blue-grey wash on head and front of body; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 100 cm.
★★★
9 HEXAGON ROCKCOD
Epinephelus hexagonatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Inhabits coral reefs, usually found in exposed outer reef areas in shallow water; distinguished by numerous brown spots separated by pale hexagonal “wire-netting” pattern; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 30 cm.
★★★
10 LARGE-SPOTTED ROCKCOD
Epinephelus macrospilos (Bleeker, 1855)
Inhabits coral reefs to depths of at least 44 m; distinguished by pattern of dark brown spots, which are very large and roughly hexagonal-shaped in juveniles and subadults, but become more numerous, smaller, and rounded in adults; Great Barrier Reef, offshore reefs of W. Australia, and throughout S.E. Asia; Indo-C. Pacific; to 43 cm.
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