Orange-red body with strongly contrasting blue spots, tailfin with rounded rear margin, orange pectoral fin. Capable of quickly turning off or on a pattern of irregular light bars on body. Distinguished from similarly brightly-coloured Plectropomus species (blue-spotted coral trouts) by rounded rather than flat rear tail margin, a steeper forehead profile and a more 'bottom dweller' body shape. Orange, unspotted pectoral fin and lack of lines on face distinguish it from similar C. sexmaculata (Sixband Rockcod). Length to 45 cm.

• Max Size: 45 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 19.1-31.3°C
• Depth: 2-150m
• Habitat: Coral Reef
• Habitat Generalisation Index: 8.4
  Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here

• Threats: Exploitation, Habitat degradation
• IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
• Occurrence: Frequent (13% of sites)
  Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
• Abundance: Few (3 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.