Coral Grouper
Cephalopholis miniata
Vivid orange-red grouper dotted with blue spots, common on Red Sea coral reefs.
Family
Serranidae
Avg Size
40-50 cm
Habitat
The coral grouper favours clear water around coastal and offshore coral reefs, preferring exposed areas over sheltered ones, and is often seen in caves and under ledges. It ranges from 2 to 150 m (6.6 to 492 ft) deep.
Behaviour
Like other groupers, this is a predatory species: more than 80% of its diet is small fish, chiefly sea goldies (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), which it ambushes with a sudden rush up from the bottom, with crustaceans making up the rest. The fish live in harems of a single male and up to 12 females.
Where & When to See It
Carnatic
Abu Hashish
Abu Nuhas
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
White Knight
Abu Kifan
Big Giftun
El Fanous West
Jackson Reef
Panorama Reef
Ras Zaatar
Rosalie Moller
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Petra
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark Observatory
Shark's Bay
The Canyon
The Ulysses
Thistlegorm
Three Pools
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Reef
Woodhouse Reef
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Blue Hole - El Bells
Bluff Point
Careless Reef
Chrisoula K
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Eel Garden
Eel Gardens
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Mina Wreck
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Giannis D
Gordon Reef
Gota Abu Ramada
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Kimon M
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Lighthouse
Middle Garden
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Napoleon Reef
Near Garden
North Gabr El Bint
North Ras Abu Galum
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Abu Helal
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Katy
Ras Nasrani
Ras Um Sid
Salem Express
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Eissa
Shaab Sabina
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Small Giftun
Sodfa
Soma Bay Garden
South Ras Abu Galum
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Caves
The Islands
Thomas Reef
Tower
Turtle Bay
Umm Gamar North
Umm Gamar South
Aida
Fury Shoals
Umm Kharalim
Rocky Island
Big Brother Island
Numidia
Gota Kebir
Gota Soraya
Habili Ali
Daedalus Reef
Sha'ab Sharm
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Habili Gaffar
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Claudia
Elphinstone
Little Brother Island
Shaab Sataya
Zabargad Island
Abu Ghalawa
Abu Dabbab