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Golden hind (Cephalopholis aurantia) — Serranidae

Golden hind

Cephalopholis aurantia
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Golden hind (Cephalopholis aurantia) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
40.0–300.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The golden hind is a rare grouper (Serranidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches about 60 cm and has an orange-red, stocky body with a rounded tail. It lives on steep seaward reefs, usually at depths of 100 to 250 m but sometimes shallower, and is rarely seen. The diet consists mainly of crabs, supplemented with other crustaceans and small fishes. Like other groupers the species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, beginning as a female and later able to change into a male. Owing to the great depth it is little known.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Golden hind?

The Golden hind has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Golden hind live?

The Golden hind lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Golden hind get?

The Golden hind grows to a maximum of about 60 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Golden hind dangerous to humans?

No, the Golden hind is harmless to humans.

Is the Golden hind edible?

The Golden hind is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gouden koraalbaars sourced
English name
Golden hind verified
Scientific name
Cephalopholis aurantia
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Golden hind; Golden rockcod; Orange cod; Orange rockcod verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
40.0 verified
Max depth (m)
300.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

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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