Blue-Spotted Grouper

Cephalopholis cyanostigma

The blue-spotted grouper (Cephalopholis cyanostigma), also known as the bluespotted hind, is a species of grouper in the family Serranidae. Adults reach up to 55 cm with a robust, reddish-brown body covered with numerous small, bright blue spots surrounded by pale circular markings. This species inhabits coral reefs, reef slopes, and rocky areas at depths of 3-45 meters across the western Pacific, from Indonesia and the Philippines to the Great Barrier Reef and Japan. Blue-spotted groupers are typically solitary and territorial, often found perched on coral heads or resting in crevices during the day. They are ambush predators feeding on small fish and crustaceans. Like other Cephalopholis groupers, they are protogynous hermaphrodites. Their vivid blue spots against the reddish-brown body create a stunning appearance that makes them one of the more photogenic small grouper species.