Camouflage Grouper

ID points

• Brown blotches join into camouflage with blurred edges
• Usually a dark saddle patch on top of the tail base
• Stocky body, the head as wide as the body

Basics

Family

Serranidae

Length

50–90 cm

Depth

1-45 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indo-Pacific coral and rocky reefs

Habitat

Lagoon and seaward reefs

Diet

Fish, crustaceans

Easily confused with

GrouperLarge head and mouth, with the lower jaw slightly protrudingLeopard GrouperBrown ground densely covered with small red-brown spotsGiant GrouperCan reach over two metres and is extremely bulky

Fun fact

The camouflage grouper can rapidly adjust the brown blotches on its skin to melt into the coral behind it. Held still it is all but invisible, which makes it one of the finest ambush hunters on the reef.

More in this family

• Anthias
• Barramundi Cod
• Coral Hind
• Coral Trout
• Peacock Grouper
• Potato Grouper