Coney Grouper

Cephalopholis fulva

The coney grouper (Cephalopholis fulva) is a small, beautifully colored grouper reaching about 40 cm in length, found throughout the western Atlantic and Caribbean. It displays remarkable color variability, occurring in several distinct phases: the most common reddish-brown phase covered with small blue spots, a bright yellow phase (xanthic), a bicolor phase with dark upper body and pale lower body, and an entirely dark phase. All phases feature two prominent black spots on the chin and two on the caudal peduncle. This protogynous hermaphrodite inhabits coral reefs from just below the surface to about 150 meters, though most commonly found between 10-45 meters. It is a sit-and-wait predator, perching motionless on coral heads or reef edges before lunging at passing small fish and crustaceans. Coneys are among the most commonly encountered groupers on Caribbean dives and are relatively tame, often allowing close approach. They frequently visit cleaning stations where small gobies and shrimp remove parasites. Their multiple color phases make identification interesting and photography rewarding.