Tomato Rockcod, Cephalopholis sonnerati (Valenciennes, 1828)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Tomato Rockcod, Cephalopholis sonnerati (Valenciennes, 1828)

The Tomato Rockcod is a deep bodied species with a hump-headed appearance. It is red to orange-red or brown, sometimes with brown, red or white spots.

Identification

The Tomato Rockcod is a deep bodied species with a hump-headed appearance. It is red to orange-red or brown, sometimes with brown, red or white spots.

Size range

It grows to about 58 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in the Indo-West and Central Pacific regions.

In Australia it is known from tropical waters from the central coast of Western Australia to southern Queensland.

Habitat

It is a benthic species that occurs in coral reef and tropical inshore waters at depths from about 30 m to 100 m.

Classification

Species:: sonnerati
Genus:: Cephalopholis
Family:: Serranidae
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.
Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Last Updated: 19 May 2009

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