Yellowedge Coronation Trout, Variola louti (Forsskål, 1775)

Scientific name: Variola louti
Alternative name/s:
Common Lyretail-cod, Coronation Grouper, Coronation Trout, Fairy Cod, Lunar Tail Rock Cod, Lunar-tailed Cod, Lyre-tail Cod, Moontail Seabass, Yellow-edged Lyretail
Adult Yellowedge Coronation Trout Click to enlarge image
An adult Yellowedge Coronation Trout at a depth of 22 m, 'Temple of Doom', Ribbon Reefs north of Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 2000. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Variola
    Species
    louti
    Family
    Serranidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grow to 80 cm in length.

Introduction

The Yellowedge Coronation Cod is reddish above, often shading to orangish to white on the belly, with numerous small bluish or pinkish spots on the head, body and fins. It is found in tropical marine waters.

Identification

The Yellowedge Coronation Cod is a moderately elongate, compressed fish. It has small, mostly ctenoid scales on the body and cycloid scales on the head. The dorsal and anal fins have pointed posterior tips. The species is reddish above, often shading to orangish to white on the belly. There are numerous small bluish or pinkish spots on the head, body and fins. The posterior margins of the fins are yellow.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific from close to the surface to over 100 m in depth. In Australia it is known from central and north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef 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. Click on the map for detailed information. 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. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  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.