Found in shallow reefs and rocky bottoms, occurring down to depths of at least 100 meters . Usually solitary and territorial. Feed mainly on crabs (Calapa and Mithrax) and other crustaceans (alpheid shrimps and scyllarid lobsters), fishes (labrids and haemulids), and octopus. Some undergo sexual inversion at 28 cm TL; most fish larger than 40 cm are males. Important in terms of numbers caught and total weight of landings in the Caribbean. Easily approached by divers . Hermaphrodite species. Excellent food fish . Readily caught on hook and line and easily speared .
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Scales cycloid except for a ctenoid patch of variable size in the pectoral region. Greenish gray to light brown on the back grading to white ventrally, with numerous well-spaced dull orange-red to brown spots on the head, body and fins. Five faint diagonal bars formed by darker spots on the sides. No saddle-shaped blotch on caudal peduncle or along base of dorsal fin ; further characterized by having body depth contained 2.7-3.1 times in standard length; head length 2.3-2.4 times in standard length; evenly serrate preopercle, without salient angle; posterior nostril larger than anterior nostril .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
Behavioural data for Red hind is currently being reviewed.
Females rest on or close to the bottom, while males patrol around an area that consists of 1 to 5 females and defend this territory from other males. Form aggregation and reproduce almost exclusively within the aggregation period .
Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 1 - 100 m . Tropical; 36°N - 8°N, 98°W - 58°W North Carolina, USA to Paraíba, Brazil (Ref.
crabs (Calapa and Mithrax) and other crustaceans (alpheid shrimps and scyllarid lobsters), fishes (l
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Deady · Gatu Corá · Gatu Pretu · Hind · Koon · Lucky Grouper · Red hind · Rockhind |
| 🌍CES | kanic rudoskvrnný |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Rødplettet havaborre |
| 🇫🇷French | Grand Forte · Grand Gele · Merou · Merou Couronne · Vieille rouge |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Rode katvis |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Garoupa-palhaço |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Чернопёрый групер |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Arigua · cabrilla · cabrilla colorada · Cabrilla roja · Carbrilla · Mero · Mero cabrilla · Mero Colorado · Parra · Payaso · Sofia · Tofia |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 紅點石斑魚 |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 54 records indexed .
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