Gracila albomarginata is a moderately common reef fish that is rarely caught by fishermen, usually occurring in depths of 15-25 meters and swimming slowly a meter or two above the reef.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 38 cm
color
Dark brown but with purple-blue markings. About 4 diagonal lines on head, about 14 narrow chevrons on sides and several spots on ‘neck’. Rear of pectoral fins, edge of soft dorsal and caudal fins orange. Edge of spiny dorsal, pelvics and anal violet. Juveniles purple brown with orange bands.
This grouper is quite active, swimming around the reef. It is usually found in areas of the outer reef that are deeper than 15 m and its diet consists mainly of fish.
distinctive characters
The dorsal fin has nine spines and fourteen to sixteen rays, the anal fin has three spines and nine to ten rays, and the pectoral fin has seventeen to nineteen rays. The body depth is two point six to three point three times the standard length, and the head is small. The distal part of the maxilla of adults has a prominent step or hook-like process on the lower edge, and the dorsal fin membranes are not incised between the spines. The caudal fin is truncate.