Animal Species:Blue-lined Rockcod, Cephalopholis formosa (Shaw & Nodder, 1812)

The Blue-lined Rockcod can be recognised by its colouration. It is a dark yellow-brown with blue lines on the head, body and fins. There are blue spots on the snout, lower part of the head and thorax.

Blue-lined Rockcod at Redang

Blue-lined Rockcod at Redang
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

The species has also been called the Bluelined Hind.

Identification

The Blue-lined Rockcod can be recognised by its colouration. It is a dark yellow-brown with blue lines on the head, body and fins. There are blue spots on the snout, lower part of the head and thorax.

Size range

It grows to 34 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the East-Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia and possibly the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Cephalopholis formosa

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Blue-lined Rockcod specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
formosa
Genus:
Cephalopholis
Family:
Serranidae
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Heemstra, P.C. & J.E. Randall. 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 Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. FAO. Rome. Pp. 382.
  3. Heemstra, P.C. & J.E. Randall. Serranidae in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


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Tags fish, ichthyology, Blue-lined Rockcod, Cephalopholis formosa, rocky, reef, yellow-brown, blue lines, stripes or bands, blue spots, dots/spots, Bluelined Hind, 10 cm - 30 cm, tropical water, marine, Great Barrier Reef,