Golden Hind, Cephalopholis aurantia (Valenciennes 1828)


Other Names: Golden Rockcod, Orange Cod, Orange Rockcod

A Golden Hind, Cephalopholis aurantia, from Amami Oshima Attasone, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, May 2006, depth 40 m. Source: Aloof fisherman / Web Fish Picture Book, https://zukan.com/fish/leaf10757. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:
A poorly known deep-water grouper with a pale reddish- to yellowish-orange, or golden body, small red to yellow spots on the head, anterior body, and along the dorsal-fin base, a pale bluish margin and a fine black submarginal band on the caudal fin, and often a narrow pale blue margin on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2017, Cephalopholis aurantia in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5173

Golden Hind, Cephalopholis aurantia (Valenciennes 1828)

More Info


Distribution

Recorded in the Australian EEZ from Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. Elsewhere the species occurs around islands in the Indo-west-central Pacific. 
Inhabits steep seaward reefs, at depths of 20-250 m (usually at 100-250 m).

Features

Dorsal fin IX, 14–16 rays; Anal fin III, 9 (rarely 8); Pectoral fin 17–19; Gill rakers 7–9 + 14–17; Lateral-line scales 47–53; Lateral-scale series 94–121.
Body depth 2.6–2.9 times in SL, less than head length; head length 2.4–2.6 times in SL; interorbital area flat; preopercle rounded, finely serrate, lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle serrate; maxilla scaly, reaching to or beyond vertical at rear edge of eye. Lateral-body scales ctenoid.
Pectoral fins distinctly longer than pelvic fins, pectoral-fin length 1.3–1.5 times in HL; pelvic fin length 1.6–2.0 times in HL, fins reaching to or slightly before anus; caudal fin well rounded.

Similar Species

May be confused with the Strawberry Rockcod, Cephalopholis spiloparaea, and sometimes with the Tomato Rockcod, C. sonnerati. C. spiloparaea is usually pale reddish, with dark red or brownish-red mottles and blotches, and has shorter pelvic fins not reaching the anus. C. sonnerati is mostly a darker red with a greater body depth (2.3–2.7 times in SL), more numerous scales (lateral-line scales 66–80) and a steeper head profile.

Species Citation

Serranus aurantius Valenciennes, 1828, Hist. Nat. Poiss. 2: 305. Type locality: Seychelles.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2017

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Golden Hind, Cephalopholis aurantia (Valenciennes 1828)

References


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. & Steene, R.C. 1988. Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 197 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.

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

Hobbs, J-P.A., Newman, S.J., Mitsopoulos, G.E.A., Travers, M.J., Skepper, C.L., Gilligan, J.J., Allen, G.R., Choat, H.J. & Ayling, A.M. 2014. Checklist and new records of Christmas Island fishes: the influence of isolation, biogeography and habitat availability on species abundance and community composition. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement 30: 184–202, PDF available, open access

Liu, M. & Heemstra, P.C. 2008. Cephalopholis aurantia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. . Downloaded on 15 March 2015.

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

Valenciennes, A. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1828. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 2 xxi, 2 + 490 pp., pls 9-40.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37311204

Conservation:IUCN Data Deficient

Depth:20-250 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:60 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map