Meristic formula D, IX+15-16 ;A, III+9-10; P, 18; V, I+5; LL,68-72  photo: Daniel Golani

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body robust, slightly compressed. Continuous dorsal fin, its spines shorter than its soft rays. Posterior margin of dorsal and anal fins round. Caudal fin round. Large mouth with slightly projected lower jaw. Premaxilla reaches back to the hind edge of eye. Upper jaw with two large canine, a patch of sharp teeth on their base, followed by series of sharp teeth as an outer row and smaller teeth in the inner row. Lower jaw with 3-5 rows of small sharp teeth. Vomer and palatine patches with small sharp teeth. Preoperculum with fine serration on the lower edge. Three flat spines on the upper posterior corner of the operculum.     color : body bright red covered with many blue to brown spots. The edge of most fins slightly darker. common size : 30-50 cm (max 70 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Other Serranids – ten or more dorsal spies. The color pattern distinguishes this species from all Mediterranean species. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds, like other serranids on fish and large invertebrates. Protogynous hermaphrodite. Eggs and larvae planktonic. habitat : sandy or rocky substrate at depths of 20-300 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Libya, 2007 [2002]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : West Africa from Morocco to Angola including Cape Verde, Principe Island and São Tomé Island. Mediterranean : Libya (Ben Abdallah et al., 2007). More recently recorded in Malta; Lampedusa Island (Italy). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare, only three specimens were collected, all in Libya. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via Gibraltar. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS Considered a highly esteemed commercial species in its native region.

KEY REFERENCES Ben Abdallah A., Ben Souissi J., Méjri H., Capapé C. and Golani D., 2007. First record of Cephalopholis taeniops (Valenciennes) in the Mediterranean Sea. J. Fish Biology, 71: 610-614. Heemstra P.C., 1991. A taxonomic revision of the eastern Atlantic groupers (Pisces: Serranidae). Bolletin do Museo Municipal da Funchal, 43: 5-71. Heemstra P.C. and Randall J.E., 1993. FAO species catalogue, Vol 16. Groupers of the world (Family Serranidae, Subfamily Epinephelinae). FAO Fisheries Synopsis, 125.   FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2013 ©ciesm 2002