Common Name: Tomato Rockcod

Distribution: Uncommon in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Known from the Indo-Pacific: east coast of Africa (Djibouti, Socotra to Durban) to the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to southern Queensland in Australia.

Ecological Notes: Frequents deep lagoon reefs and steep outer reef slopes; encountered in coastal areas with rocky substrates. Juveniles are usually found near sponges or coral heads. Adults usually at moderate depths (30 to 100 m).

Additional Notes: Pale white tail margin and deep, stout body profile with dense covering of dark rusty spots are distinctive of this species. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans including shrimps, crabs and stomatopods. Adult pictured top, small juvenile below. Grows to 57 cm but usually 35 cm. 

References: R. Stuart-Smith, G. Edgar, A. Green, I. Shaw, Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland Publishers, 2015. p.89.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://fishbase.ca/summary/Cephalopholis-sonnerati.html. Accessed 02/05/18.