Atlantic goliath grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Darkfin hind
Cephalopholis urodeta
About
A small, solitary grouper that holds its ground on the reef top, the darkfin hind rarely grows past 28 cm but keeps a territory all the same.
Also known as: black-finange rock cod, blackfin cod, brown-finned rock-cod, duskyfin rockcod, flag-tail rock cod, flag-tailed grouper, flag-tailed rock-cod, flag-tailed rockcod, flagtail cod, flagtail grouper, flagtail grouper, darkfin hind, flagtail rockcod, sea bass, flagtail cod, duskyfin hind, brown-finned rock-cod, black-finange rock cod, flag-tail rock cod, flag-tailed grouper, duskyfin rockcod, darkfin hind, flagtail grouper, flag-tailed rockcod, blackfin cod, grouper, flagtail rockcod, chevron rock-cod, flag-tailed rock-cod, tailstriped hind, darkfin hind, flagtail rock-cod, duskyfin hind, chevron rock-cod, flag-tailed cod
- Length
- 28 cm
- Depth
- 3–15 m
How to tell it apart
This is one of several small brownish groupers on the reef, but the tail settles it: two pale blue-white bands cross both lobes of the caudal fin and converge toward the middle, forming a clear V - the mark behind its alternative name, the V-tail grouper.
Appearance
The body is less deep than the head is long, reddish-brown at the front and darkening toward the tail. Six faint bars cross the flanks, forking as they reach the belly, with small orange-red spots scattered over the head and nape and a pair of dark spots near the tip of the lower lip. The pectoral fins are yellowish, and there is often a large reddish-brown spot on the edge of the gill cover.
Habitat
Lives in clear, shallow water on healthy coral reefs - over the reef top, in lagoons, and along the back and outer edges of reefs - down to about 60 m.
Did you know?
A single male holds a territory that overlaps the ranges of several females, and he visits to court them in the afternoon rather than at the more usual dawn or dusk.
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