snapper

Identifying Features:

This rather elongate snapper has a vivid yellow body with a reddish underside. Four broad, bright-blue stripes run along the upper flanks, with 7- 10 narrower stripes occurring along the lower sides. These conspicuous markings are all finely edged in black or dark brown. This pattern is characteristic and distinguishes the bluebanded snapper from two or three closely related species. The fins are yellow, and in many, but not all, specimens there is a black blotch on each flank just below the dorsal fin rays. Can attain 30 cm.

Cephalopholis miniata

Common names:
South Africa ~ coral rockcod, bluespotted rockcod
Elsewhere: ~ coral trout - vermillion seabass,

Identifying Features:

This small, robust fish has spectacular body colours. It is bright orange or red overall, and patterned with numerous, intensely blue spots, each of which is ringed with a thin, brown band. The fins are similarly coloured and may be edged in brown. Can attain 50 cm though few exceed 30-40 cm.

The body is covered with small, but distinct scales arranged in 95-1 10 series. Scales also extend partially onto the fin bases. Spines are Prominent in the fins which include a single dorsal of nine spines plus 14-16 rays, and an anal of three spines plus nine rays. The caudal fin is rounded. Several rows of small, Pointed teeth are set in both jaws of the large mouth, but lateral canines are lacking. The teeth can fold backwards. The first gill arch bears 14-20 short, spiky rakers.

Sex reversal is common amongst the Serranidae, and it is likely that female rockcods change into males once a certain length has been obtained.