Cephalopholis formosa (Shaw, 1812)
Bluelined hind
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Epinephelidae (Groupers)
Max. size:  34 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: western India to Philippines, north to southern Japan (Honshu), south to northern Australia. 'Epinephelus formosus' from Madagascar (Ref. 6457), RĂ©union and Mauritius (Ref. 6458) are probably based on misidentifications of Cephalopholis polleni. Confused with Cephalopholis boenak.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Characterized by: dark brown to yellowish brown color with narrow blue stripes; body with ctenoid scales, including abdomen; greatest depth of body 2.5-2.9 in SL; rounded caudal fin; pelvic fins, 1.6-2.0 in head length (Ref. 90102): head length 2.4-2.6 in SL; preorbital depth 3.6-4.3% SL, more than half maxilla width; convex interorbital area; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, lower edge fleshy; smooth subopercle and interopercle; maxilla naked, reaching to or just past vertical at rear edge of eye (Ref. 089707).
Biology:  Like C. boenak, it prefers shallow dead or silty reefs and this may account for the primarily continental distributions of these two species. Solitary (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 November 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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