Cephalopholis sexmaculata (Rüppell 1830)

Andréfouët, Serge, Chen, Wei-Jen, Kinch, Jeff, Mana, Ralph, Russell, Barry C., Tully, Dean & White, William T., 2019, Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 810 new records, Zootaxa 4588 (1), pp. 1-360 : 113

Cephalopholis sexmaculata (Rüppell 1830) —Saddle grouper ( Fig. 52 )

Status at New Ireland. First recorded from Lihir Group , Namatamai District , New Ireland by Fry et al. (2006: 130). Specimens observed by Jeff Kinch during CFMDP Survey at Kavieng fish market in 2004–2005, and collected by Barry C. Russell on 28 June 2014; a video of a specimen taken at Nubilus Island , off eastern New Hanover , 3–25 m depth, St. KR 90, in 2014 (identified by Barry C. Russell). A specimen photographed by Serge Andréfouët off northwestern Bauddisson Island, Kavieng District, St. KVG24, 22 Aug. 2014 .

Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 1, 2, 5.—General distribution: Red Sea, East and South Africa east to Line, Marquesas and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to Great Barrier Reef at 23°30'S and Lord Howe Island. Found in coral reefs, usually along deep walls with caves, rich with invertebrate growth such as large sponges or soft corals, 2–50 m depth. Marine.

Figures

FIGURE 52. Cephalopholis sexmaculata (Rüppell 1830), off northwestern Bauddisson Island, Kavieng District, St. KVG24, 22 Aug. 2014 (underwater photograph: Serge Andréfouët).