Cephalopholis miniata
Coral rockcod | Blue-spotted Rockcod | Coral Cod | Coral Grouper | Coral Hind | Red Coral Perch | Red Grouper | Round-tailed Trout | Vermilion Grouper | Vermilion Rockcod | Vermilion Seabass
Similar Species
Same Genus
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
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.
Information
Max Size: 45 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 19.1-31.3°C
Depth: 2-150m
Habitat Generalization Index: 8.39
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.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Frequent (13.7% 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.
Edit by: Joe Shields