Purple Rockcod, Epinephelus cyanopodus (Richardson, 1846)

Scientific name: Epinephelus cyanopodus
Alternative name/s:
This species has also been called the Blue Maori or Blue Maori Cod.
Purple Rockcod, Epinephelus cyanopodus Click to enlarge image
A Purple Rockcod at a depth of 12 m, 'the ledges', Fly Point, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, New South Wales, December 2008. Image: David and Leanne Atkinson
© David and Leanne Atkinson

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Epinephelus
    Species
    cyanopodus
    Family
    Serranidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    1 m

Introduction

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.

Identification

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

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.

Purple Rockcod
A Purple Rockcod at a depth of 12 m, 'the ledges', Fly Point, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, New South Wales, December 2008. Image: David and Leanne Atkinson
© David and Leanne Atkinson

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.

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

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. 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.