Cephalopholis argus is the most common and widespread species of the genus, and juveniles are sometimes exported as aquarium fish; it is also considered an excellent food fish.
Details
§ 01
size
Common to 35 cm; max. 52 cm
color
Body, head and fins dark brown. About 5-6 pale vertical bars occur on sides. Entire body including the fins spotted with black-edged blue spots. Fins dark.
This species is found in lagoons and on coral reefs to depths of 40 m, usually alone or in pairs. It tends to hide under coral ledges or in rocky crevices and feeds mainly on fish.
distinctive characters
The fish has a dorsal fin with nine spines and fifteen to seventeen rays, an anal fin with three spines and nine rays, a pectoral fin with sixteen to eighteen rays, and an oblong, somewhat compressed body with a depth of two point seven to three point two in standard length. It also has seventeen to nineteen gill rakers on the lower limb, auxiliary scales on the body, and dorsal and anal rays that are longer than their adjacent spines. The pelvic fin is shorter than half the head length.