Fun Peacock Grouper Facts For Kids
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The peacock grouper (Cephalopholis argus) belongs to the family Serranidae. It is also sometimes referred to as Hawaiian peacock grouper.
This fish is from the Indo-Pacific. The population of this grouper is distributed or is spread across the native range that includes the Red Sea and South Africa; in the eastern part, it is found in French Polynesia and also in the Hawaiian island.
The peacock grouper ecosystem or habitat of this grouper or peacock hind or roi includes exposed or bare margins or edges of tropical and sub-tropical reefs. It can be commonly spotted on exposed reefs.
Not a lot of information is available about the reproduction of this grouper, but it has been recorded that there are harems of females, and only one male is allowed inside the group. The male engages in displays to continue his bond with the female.
This fish is a protogynous hermaphrodite.
The fish has a dark brown colored body with animated blue spots. There are vertical bars on its body and a white patch on the breast.
The diet or food of this fish consists of benthic or marine crustaceans like shrimps and lobsters and some other crustaceans too. These fish are known to hover motionless in the column water before attacking or hunting.
They also follow other predator species in order to hunt. The peacock hind is known for causing ciguatera poisoning due to ciguatera toxin presence in it, and it is not common in commercial and local fisheries.
This fish is often confused with a similar species that is blue-spotted grouper. It is quite gripping to learn about the peacock grouper (Cephalopholis argus) and if you are interested, read about these channel catfish facts and rainbow trout facts too.
Peacock Grouper Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a peacock grouper?
The peacock grouper or roi is a fish.
What class of animal does a peacock grouper belong to?
It belongs to the class Actinopterygii of fishes.
How many peacock groupers are there in the world?
There has been no exact count or number of the populations of the peacock groupers in the world recorded or estimated.
Where does a peacock grouper live?
This roi fish is from the Indo-Pacific. The population of this species of fish is distributed across or spread throughout the native range that includes the Red Sea, South Africa; in the eastern part, it is found in French Polynesia.
The population of this species has also been observed or found in Japan, Australia, and Lord Howe Island. It is known that this species is introduced in the Hawaiian islands.
What is a peacock grouper's habitat?
The preferred habitat that this roi fish species inhabit consists of exposed or bare margins or edges of tropical and sub-tropical reefs as to prey or hunt it lies submissively near the rocks and on ocean floors. It can be commonly spotted on exposed reefs. The preferred depth is up to 131.2 ft (40 m).
Who do peacock groupers live with?
The females of this species of roi fish are known to defend their territories in small groups.
How long does a peacock grouper live?
The roi, peacock grouper lifespan is unknown, but in general, groupers are known to live for about 9-37 years in the wild, and it is believed that they can live longer if taken care of properly in captivity.
How do they reproduce?
Not a lot of information is available regarding the reproduction of this species of roi fish, but it has been observed that males tend to surround themselves with around 12 females. Every group has its own territory, and each female is known to have its part in the territory.
Spawning is known to happen, or it occurs territorially at dusk.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation category this species has been placed under is Least Concern.
Peacock Grouper Fun Facts
What do peacock groupers look like?
The body of this fish is known to be dark brown in color. Ocelli or spots that are small and blue or the various number of electric blue spots ringed or edged with black are known to cover the body.
There is a large patch on the breast, which is white in color, and around five to six vertical bars that are pale or light and are there on the posterior part of the body and the pectoral fins.
The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are known to have a narrow band on the posterior margins, and this band is white in color. Some parts of the pectoral fins are edged or bordered with maroon-brown color.
How cute are they?
These fishes are not considered cute.
How do they communicate?
Not a lot of information is available regarding the communication of these fishes, but it is believed that just like other fishes, these fish also use tactile and chemical cues to communicate with each other.
How big is a peacock grouper?
The peacock grouper fish size or length of this fish is up to 24 in (60 cm). It could be similar in size or larger than a Nassau grouper, another member of the family Serranidae.
How fast can a peacock grouper swim?
The exact speed of this grouper species is unknown, but they are known to be good swimmers.
How much does a peacock grouper weigh?
The weight of this species of fish is unknown.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no specific names for the males and females of this species.
What would you call a baby peacock grouper?
There is no particular name for a baby of this species.
What do they eat?
The food of these groupers consists of marine prey or benthic crustaceans like shrimp and lobsters, surgeonfish. This fish is known to use various techniques to hunt its prey or food, like following other predator species like octopus or eel to catch prey.
Are they dangerous?
Not much information is available about this fish being dangerous, but certain species of fish contain toxins that could make you sick.
Would they make a good pet?
These fishes are kept in aquariums as pets, but it is believed that it would make a good pet when housed alone or with some species of fish that are aggressive and invasive, too, like moray eels and lionfish. Because of its predatory nature, it can eat smaller fishes in the aquarium, like damselfish.
Did you know...
When foraging, it has been observed that this fish hovers in the water motionless before attacking.
This fish is known to be hardy, aggressive, and invasive, and longer or bigger than a blue-spotted grouper as it can grow up to 16 in (40.6 cm).
This species of fish or grouper are known to start their life or are born as females and transform or mature into males.
This grouper is not considered or known to be a major threat in Hawaii, but it has been recorded that this grouper causes ciguatera poisoning, which is food poisoning caused by eating fish that contain ciguatoxin.
In the Pacific regions, these fish are considered to be a delicious delicacy or eating just like the taape fish. The toxicity of the ciguatera toxin cannot be predicted based on the location, and currently, there is no such commercial testing kit available to check or measure this toxicity.
This fish comes from the Indo-Pacific, and the peacock grouper in Hawaii was introduced around the 1950s to enhance some of the local Hawaiian fisheries and islands.
This grouper is known to engage in color fights for territorial disputes. Two males are known to position or place themselves at right angles and are known to darken their color and switch their bars from dark to light constantly.
The loser is known to become pale or light and is also known to retreat, and if there is a draw or a tie, males tend to attack each other; this can be especially seen in the Red Sea.
What other names does a peacock grouper have and why?
Other names of this fish include peacock hind, roi. Not much information is available about why peacock groupers have certain names.
Although, it is believed that harems of up to six females defend a territory against other females and allows a single roi or peacock grouper male to enter that territory.
This single male is known to present or display a dorsal fin which is raised to all the females in the harem daily to continue its bond. This action or display is known to be the reason behind the name 'peacock' grouper.
The name has its roots in or has been derived from Greek mythology; the blue spots are interpreted as 'hundred staring eyes' just like the monster Argus.
What's unique about the peacock grouper?
This grouper or fish is known to be unique because of one feature. This fish is known to be a protogynous hermaphrodite; that is, female to male transformation takes place or happens in this species.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these pilchard facts and Arctic char facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our Peacock Grouper coloring pages.
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As a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and energetic individual, Olaleye's expertise lies in administrative and management operations. With extensive knowledge as an Editor and Communications Analyst, Olaleye excels in editing, writing, and media relations. Her commitment to upholding professional ethics and driving organizational growth sets her apart. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Benin, Edo State.
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