Home · Serranidae · Blue-lined coral cod
Blue-lined coral cod (Cephalopholis boenak) — Serranidae

Blue-lined coral cod

Cephalopholis boenak
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blue-lined coral cod (Cephalopholis boenak) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–64.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The chocolate hind is a small grouper (family Serranidae) of the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches about 30 cm and has a stocky, brown body with dark bars. It is mainly coastal and inhabits silty, dead reefs in protected waters, but is also seen on live coral; it is secretive and often stays hidden. As a predator it hunts mainly fishes and crustaceans. Like many groupers the species is a protogynous hermaphrodite that begins as a female and may later change into a male. It is of value to subsistence fisheries and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue-lined coral cod?

The Blue-lined coral cod has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Blue-lined coral cod live?

The Blue-lined coral cod lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blue-lined coral cod get?

The Blue-lined coral cod grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Blue-lined coral cod dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue-lined coral cod is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue-lined coral cod edible?

Yes, the Blue-lined coral cod is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Chocoladebaars sourced
English name
Blue-lined coral cod verified
Scientific name
Cephalopholis boenak
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Bluelined coralcod; Boenacki grouper; Brown coral cod; Brown coral-cod; Brown-banded cod verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Vertical bars 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)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
64.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
11.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas rond riffen. sourced
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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