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Bluelined coral grouper (Cephalopholis formosa) — Serranidae

Bluelined coral grouper

Cephalopholis formosa
Family: Serranidae

The Bluelined coral grouper (Cephalopholis formosa) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 34 cm.

Length
34 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Brunei Darsm, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The bluelined coral grouper is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 34 cm and has a brown-green body densely covered with fine blue longitudinal lines. As a bottom-oriented ambush predator it lives around coral and rocky reefs and engulfs small fish and crustaceans. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluelined coral grouper?

The Bluelined coral grouper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Bluelined coral grouper live?

The Bluelined coral grouper lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Brunei Darsm, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others

How big does the Bluelined coral grouper get?

The Bluelined coral grouper grows to a maximum of about 34 cm.

Is the Bluelined coral grouper dangerous to humans?

No, the Bluelined coral grouper is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Bluelined coral grouper edible?

The Bluelined coral grouper is rarely eaten.

More photos

Bluelined coral grouper (Cephalopholis formosa) — Serranidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Kaustubh Sandip Warde, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bluelined coral grouper (Cephalopholis formosa) — Serranidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Niran Anurakpongsathorn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bluelined coral grouper (Cephalopholis formosa) — Serranidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Amada44 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Bluelined coral grouper (Cephalopholis formosa) — Serranidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Amada44 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Bluelined coral grouper sourced
Scientific name
Cephalopholis formosa
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Bluelined grouper; Blue-lined grouper; Bluelined hind; Bluelined rockcod; Blue-lined rockcod; Blue-lined coral cod; Blue-lined rock cod; Blue-lined rock-cod; Blue-lined sea bass; Chocolate hind; Rock cod verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
34.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Brunei Darsm, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Cephalopholis

More from the family Serranidae

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