Leopard coralgrouper (Plectropomus leopardus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Plectropomus leopardus
- Common name
- Leopard coralgrouper
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Epinephelidae
- Genus
- Plectropomus
- Size
- 40–120 cm
- Depth
- 3–100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, territorial, predator
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Plectropomus leopardus reaches 1.2 m. Elongated body colored red to olive green dotted with small black-ringed electric-blue spots over the whole surface, ocher fins. Iconic of the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Actively hunts by day on Indo-Pacific reefs down to 100 m. Documented cooperative hunting with morays and octopuses: postural communication to locate prey. Highly valued in gastronomy.
Photo of Leopard coralgrouper
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Leopard coralgrouper?
- Leopard coralgrouper (Plectropomus leopardus) reaches 40–120 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Leopard coralgrouper?
- Leopard coralgrouper is found between 3–100 m deep.
- Is the Leopard coralgrouper dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Leopard coralgrouper?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Leopard coralgrouper?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Plectropomus
- Plectropomus laevis - Blue-spotted Grouper
- Plectropomus areolatus - Yellow-edged Grouper
- Plectropomus pessuliferus - Saddle Grouper
Other species in the family Epinephelidae
- Epinephelus marginatus - Dusky grouper
- Epinephelus striatus - Nassau grouper
- Cephalopholis fulva - Coney
- Cephalopholis cruentata - Graysby
- Mycteroperca tigris - Tiger grouper
- Epinephelus fasciatus - Blacktip grouper
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 218261)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5210114)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia