Atlantic goliath grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Coral hind
Cephalopholis miniata
About
The coral hind is a small, brightly coloured grouper that ambushes prey in a sudden dash from the reef floor. Its vivid colouring makes it one of the easier groupers to spot on a dive.
Also known as: coral hind, vermilion seabas, bluespot rockcod, coral grouper, vermilion seabass, vermillion seabass, coral trout, vermilion grouper, seabass, grouper, vermillion grouper, reef cod, coral rock cod, blue-spotted rockcod, coral cod, red coral perch, vermilion seabass, vermilion seabas, blue-spot rock cod, vermilion sea bass, vermilion rock cod, coral grouper, round-tailed trout, red grouper, bluespotted hind, coral rockcod, red grouper, coral grouper, coral cod, coral rock-cod, coral rockcod, coral trout, round-tailed trout, vermillion seabass, vermilion seabass, miniata grouper, miniatus grouper
- Length
- 50 cm
- Depth
- up to 150 m
How to tell it apart
Several groupers carry blue spots, but this one's warm orange-red base colour sets it apart from similarly spotted groupers with a dark brown or blackish base.
Appearance
Its body is orange-red to reddish brown, covered head to tail in small bright blue spots, smaller than a pupil, that also cover its fins. Some individuals show faint pale diagonal bars across the flanks. It can reach up to 50 cm. Juveniles are orange to yellow with fewer, more scattered blue spots.
Habitat
It favours clear water on coastal and offshore coral reefs, especially exposed sites, often lurking in caves or under ledges, from about 2 to 150 m.
Did you know?
A single male coral hind defends a harem of up to 12 females, each guarding her own smaller patch within his roughly 475 square metre territory.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
