Harlequin Grouper

Scientific Name: Cephalopholis polleni
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 43cm
Identification: Yellow to greenish yellow; bright blue or violet stripes on head, body and fins.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Clear water of outer reefs and steep slopes, seldom in less than 30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - S.E. Africa to Line Is. in eastern Central Pacific, north to S.W. Japan.

Freckled Grouper

Scientific Name: Cephalopholis microprion
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 24cm
Identification: Completely dark brown or display whitish area covering much of body; dark-edged blue spots cover head and breast.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Dead silty reefs in sheltered coastal waters in 2-20m.
Location: West Pacific - Malaysian Peninsula and Philippines to Great Barrier Reef and Fiji.

Coral Grouper

Scientific Name: Cephalopholis miniata
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 41cm
Identification: Orange-red to reddish brown with numerous dark-edged blue spots; a narrow blue margin on all fins except pectorals, occasionally display pale bars.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Coastal, lagoon and seaward reefs in 2-150m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Line Is. in eastern Central Pacific. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Peacock Grouper

Scientific Name: Cephalopholis argus
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 55cm
Identification: Brown; covered with small black-edged blue spots, broad blue borders on rear dorsal, anal, pectoral and tail fins.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups of up to 12 including a single dominant male.
Hide-out: Variable habitats from tide pools to outer reef slopes in 1-15m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to E. French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Chocolate Grouper

Scientific Name: Cephalopholis boenak
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 26cm
Identification: Brown; usually display 7-8 dark bars on side, tail with dark corners edged in blue.
Favourite: Solitary; feed primarily on crustaceans.
Hide-out: Dead silty reefs in sheltered waters and coastal reefs in 4-30m.
Location: Asian Pacific - E. Africa to Australia and New Caledonia, north to S.W. Japan.

Bluespotted Grouper

Scientific Name: Cephalopholis cyanostigma
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 30cm
Identification: Brown to reddish brown, often lightly mottled; covered with numerous black-edged blue spots.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Coastal, lagoon and seaward reefs in 1-50m.
Location: Asian-Pacific - E. Malaysian Peninsula, Philippines and Papua New Guinea to Great Barrier Reef.

Bluelined Grouper

Scientific Name: Cephalopholis formosa
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 34cm
Identification: Dark brown to yellowish brown with dark blue, primarily horizontal, lines on head, body and fins.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Dead silty reefs in sheltered waters and coastal reefs in 1-15m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - India and Maldives to N.W. Australia, north to S.W. Japan.

Slender Grouper

Scientific Name: Anyperodon leucogrammicus
Family: Groupers - Serranidae
Maximum Size: 52cm
Identification: Slender body; greenish to brownish gray with red-orange spots covering head and body; usually 3-4 pale stripes of variable intensity depending on mood.
Favourite: Solitary; fish predators.
Hide-out: Sheltered coastal and outer reefs in 5-80m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Marshall Is. in Micronesia and Samoa. S.W. Japan to Australia.