Brownbarred Rockcod
Cephalopholis boenak
Overall brownish colour with bars on sides and a blackish spot on edge of gill cover. Maximum size 30 cm.
Morphology
Some of the key features that help to identify this species are the presence of 9 dorsal fin spines and 8 anal-fin rays.
Evolution
Cephalopholis is one of the most speciose genera of groupers/rock cods (family Serranidae) with around 22 species recognised worldwide.
Behaviour
A generally secretive species that hides among reef waiting for a small fish or crustacean to swim by.
Method of reproduction
Diandric protogynous hermaphrodite. This is is the most common type of hermaphroditism in fishes. Fish are capable of sex change from females to males, and this is predicted to be evolutionarily favoured when the reproductive potential of being male outweighs that of being a female. Females and initial phased (IP) males are smaller and more drab than large terminal phased (TP) males. Diandritic refers to the fact that IP males are born as primary males, while the TP males are secondary males, born as females.
Habitat
Marine
Marine. Silty live or dead reefs in protected coastal waters. Known from water as deep as 64 m, but usually in 4 - 30 m.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific, from Kenya to the Western Pacific, including Australia.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Serranidae |
| Genus: | Cephalopholis |
| Species: | boenak |
| Name Published Year: | 1790 |
|---|---|
| Rank: | species |
| Scientific Name Authorship: | Bloch |
| Commercial Impact: | C. boenak is taken in some subsistence fishing in parts of the world. They are also taken by the commercial aquarium industry |
| Conservation Assessment: | Least Concern |
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/cephalopholis-boenak
Accessed 15 May 2025
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