Epinephelus polyphekadion
Camouflage Grouper
©Mark Shepherd: Camouflage Grouper at Lizard Island
©Anne Hoggett: One of two Epinephelus polyphekadion at Yonge Reef. This one was following the other which had much darker colouration. Note dark patch on upper tail base.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Serranidae
Genus
Epinephelus
Species
Epinephelus polyphekadion
Status
near threatened
Colours
Distinguishing features
Blotchy on upper body and with small dark spots all over; a dark saddle on the tail base.
Size
- Up to 60 cm (Length of specimen)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
Blacksaddle Rockcod (species: Epinephelus howlandi)
has white margins on dorsal, anal and caudal fins. -
Animalia:
Flowery Rockcod (species: Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)
is also blotchy with small spots and has a dark patch on the upper tail base, but the blotches are in about five vertical series and they continue onto the lower body.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
- Bott, N.J., T.L. Miller and T.H. Cribb (2013). Bucephalidae (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) of Plectropomus (Serranidae: Epinephelinae) in the tropical Pacific. Parasitology Research, 112: 2561-2584. LIRS catalog number 1717.
- Pears, R.J. (2005). Comparative demography and assemblage structure of serranid fishes: implications for conservation and fisheries management, Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University. LIRS catalog number 968.