Peacock Rockcod, Cephalopholis argus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Scientific name: Cephalopholis argus
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    10/02/22
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Peacock Rocked, <i>Cephalopholis argus</i> Click to enlarge image
A Peacock Rockcod at a depth of 14m, "The Cod Hole", Great Barrier Reef off Lizard Island, Queensland, June 2002. Note the Striped Cleaner Wrasse on the Peacock Rockcod's tail. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Cephalopholis
    Species
    argus
    Family
    Serranidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 45 cm in length.

Introduction

The Peacock Rockcod is brown to greenish. It has numerous small dark-margined blue spots on the head, body and fins. The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.

Identification

The Peacock Rockcod is brown to greenish. It has numerous small dark-margined blue spots on the head, body and fins. There is a pale area in front of the pectoral fins and sometimes five or six pale bars on the rear of the body.

Distribution

The Peacock Rockcod occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the central Queensland coast and reefs.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Economic impacts

It may be responsible for some cases of ciguatera poisoning.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.