Harlequin Grouper, Cephalopholis polleni (Bleeker 1868)
Other Names: Blue-lined Grouper, Harlequin Cod, Harlequin Hind, Harlequin Rockcod

A Harlequin Grouper, Cephalopholis polleni, at Christmas Island, May 2022. Source: Erik Schlogl / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A rare yellow to greenish-yellow deep water grouper covered in bright blue stripes.
The Harlequin Grouper only occurs around oceanic islands, and is usually seen swimming upside-down near the roof in caves, crevices and archways.
Video of a Harlequin Grouper in an aquarium.
The Harlequin Grouper only occurs around oceanic islands, and is usually seen swimming upside-down near the roof in caves, crevices and archways.
Video of a Harlequin Grouper in an aquarium.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2023, Cephalopholis polleni in Fishes of Australia, accessed 15 Feb 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5007
Harlequin Grouper, Cephalopholis polleni (Bleeker 1868)
More Info
Distribution |
Recorded from the Australian territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the Indo-west-central Pacific. A solitary species that inhabits clear steep drop-offs below 30 m, mostly at oceanic islands. |
Etymology |
The species is named in honour of François Pollen, who, along with Douwe Casparus van Dam, collected the type specimen. |
Species Citation |
Epinephelus polleni Bleeker, 1868, Verslag. Meded. Konink. Akad. Wetensch. 2 2: 336. Type locality: Réunion. |
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2023 |
Resources |
Harlequin Grouper, Cephalopholis polleni (Bleeker 1868)
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. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1994. Fishes of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 1-21.
Allen, G.R., Steene, R.C. & Orchard, M. 2007. Fishes of Christmas Island. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 2 edn, 284 pp.
Bleeker, P. 1868. Description de deux espèces inédites d'Epinephelus rapportées de l'île de la Réunion par M.M. Pollen et van Dam. Verslagen en Mededeelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen (Afdeeling Natuurjunde). Amsterdam 2 2: 336-341.
Craig, M.T. 2018. Cephalopholis polleni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T132805A100457007. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132805A100457007.en. Accessed on 15 March 2023.
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., Fennessy, S., Myers, R. & Kulbicki, M. 2008. Cephalopholis polleni. In: IUCN 2014. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1.