Purple Rockcod, Epinephelus cyanopodus (Richardson, 1846)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Purple Rockcod, Epinephelus cyanopodus (Richardson, 1846)

The Purple Rockcod has a light blue-grey body, which is covered with fine black spots. The species is usually seen in lagoons and on coastal reefs around coral or rock outcrops. It lives in waters of 2 m to 150 m in depth.

Alternative Name/s

This species has also been called the Blue Maori or Blue Maori Cod.

Identification

The Purple Rockcod can be recognised by its light blue-grey body, which is covered with fine black spots.

Size range

1 m

Distribution

It occurs in tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the Western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and far northern Queensland south to the central coast of New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Purple Rockcod specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is usually seen in lagoons and on coastal reefs around coral or rock outcrops. It lives in waters of 2 m to 150 m in depth.

Classification

Species:: cyanopodus
Genus:: Epinephelus
Family:: Serranidae
Order:: Perciformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 22 April 2010

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