Peacock Rockcod, Cephalopholis argus Bloch & Schneider 1801


Other Names: Argus Grouper, Bluespotted Grouper, Peacock Cod, Peacock Grouper, Peacock Hind, Peacock Rock-cod

A Peacock Rockcod, Cephalopholis argus, at Tauveni, Fiji. Source: Paddy Ryan / http://www.ryanphotographic.com/serranidae.htm. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
A brownish grouper covered in small black-edged blue spots, with or without 5-6 pale bars on the rear of the body, bluish fins, and a creamy-white patch around the pectoral-fin base.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Cephalopholis argus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 16 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3844

Peacock Rockcod, Cephalopholis argus Bloch & Schneider 1801

More Info


Distribution

Recorded in Australia from Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, Kendrew Island, Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef, WA, to Moreton Bay, QLD, also Boot Reef, Osprey Reef and Herald Cay in the Coral Sea, and Elizabeth Reef and Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Also at the Australian territories of Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas islands in the eastern Indian Ocean.
Elsewhere, the species is widespread in the tropical, Indo-west-central Pacific.
Found in habitats ranging from tide pools to offshore reefs and outer reef slopes. Juveniles usually in shallow areas amongst dense coral.

Features

Meristic features: Dorsal fin IX, 15-17; Anal fin III, 9. 

Species Citation

Cephalopholis argus Bloch & Schneider, 1801, Systema Ichthyologiae: 311, pl. 61. Type locality: coast of Japan.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Peacock Rockcod, Cephalopholis argus Bloch & Schneider 1801

References


Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Allen, G.R., Steene, R.C. & Orchard, M. 2007. Fishes of Christmas Island. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 2 edn, 284 pp.

Allen, G.R. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1994. Fishes of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 1-21.

Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls.

Bloch, M.E. & Schneider, J.G. 1801. Systema Ichthyologiae Iconibus ex Illustratum. Berlin 584 pp. 110 pls.

Ceccarelli, D., Choat, J.H., Ayling, A.M., Richards, Z., van Herwerden, L., Ayling, A., Ewels, G., Hobbs, J.–P. & Cuff, B. 2008. Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve Marine Survey – 2007. Report to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts by C&R Consulting and James Cook University. 80 pp.

Choat, J.H., van Herwerden, L., Robbins, W.D., Hobbs, J.P. & Ayling, A.M. 2006. A report on the ecological surveys undertaken at Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs, February 2006. Report by James Cook University to the Department of the Environment and Heritage. 65 pp.

Craig, M.T., Sadovy de Mitcheson, Y.J. & Heemstra, P.C. 2011. Groupers of the World: a Field and Market Guide. Grahamstown, South Africa : NISC Ltd 356 pp., Appendix 47 pp.

Donaldson T.J. 1995. Courtship and spawning behavior of the pygmy grouper, Cephalopholis spiloparaea (Serranidae: Epinephelinae), with notes on C. argus and C. urodeta. Environmental Biology of Fishes 43: 363-370.

Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2

Gill, A.C. & Reader, S.E. 1992. Fishes. pp. 90-93, 193-228 in Hutchings, P. (ed.). Reef Biology. A Survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, South Pacific. Canberra : Australian National Parks Vol. 3, Kowari 230 pp.

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp.

Heemstra, P.C. & Randall, J.E. 1993. Groupers of the World (Family Serranidae, Subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 16. Rome: FAO. pp. 1-382

Heemstra, P.C. & Randall, J.E. 1999. Family Serranidae. pp. 2442-2548 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 2069-2790 pp.

Hokama, Y., Shirai, J.L., Islam, M.A. 1994. Evaluation of bioassay for toxicity of ciguateric fish and associated toxins. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis 8: 63-69.

Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270.

Johnson, J.W. 2010. Fishes of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and adjacent continental shelf waters, Queensland, Australia. pp. 299-353 in Davie, P.J.F. & Phillips, J.A. Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 54(3)

Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.

Lee, C. Y Y. Sadovy. 1998. A taste for live fish: Hong Kong's live reef fish market. Naga ICLARM Q. 21(2): 38-42.

Liu, M. & Choat JH 2008. Cephalopholis argus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. . Downloaded on 28 May 2014.

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press 707 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Randall, J.E. & Heemstra, P.C. 1991. Revision of Indo-Pacific groupers (Perciformes: Serranidae: Epinephelinae), with descriptions of five new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes 20: 1-332.

Shpigel, M. & L. Fishelson. 1989. Food habits and prey selection of three species of groupers from the genus Cephalopholis (Serranidae: Teleostei). Environ. Biol. Fish. 24(1): 67-73.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37311082

Biology:Capable of changing sex

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Danger:Reports of ciguatera poisoning

Depth:1-40 m

Fishing:Commercial, recreational fish

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:60 cm TL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map