fao species catalogue vol. 16. groupers of the world - redmic

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Groupers of the World lllllllllllllllll 33
Cephalopholis aitha Randall and Heemstra, 1991 Fig. 69; PI. ID SERRAN Cephal 22
Cephalopholis aitha Randall and Heemstra, 1991:29, pl. 1c, figs 5-6 (type locality: Nagada Harbor, Madang,
Papua New Guinea).
Synonyms: None.
FAO Names: En - Rusty hind; Fr - Vielle rouillé; Sp - Cherna herrumbrosa.
Fig. 69 Cephalopholis aitha
(125 mm standard length)
Diagnostic Features: Body depth contained 2.5 to 2.9 times in standard length. Head length contained
2.1 to 2.3 times in standard length; preopercle rounded, the posterior edge finely serrate, the lower edge
fleshy; upper edge of operculum very convex; maxilla extends past eye; teeth noticeably large. Gill rakers
8 to 9 on upper limb and 16 to 19 on lower limb. Dorsal fin with IX spines and 14 rays; anal fin with III spines
and 8 rays; pectoral-fin rays 15 or 16; pelvic-fin length contained 2.3 to 2.45 times in head length.
Midlateral-body scales ctenoid; lateral-line scales 46 to 49; lateral-scale series 82 to 99. Colour: Reddish,
the edges of dorsal body scales dark brown; snout dark brown; postorbital head with pale blue network; pale
blue line along rear edge of orbit; upper jaw and cheeks with scattered pale blue dots and short lines; fins
reddish; margin of soft-dorsal, anal, and caudal fins
pale bluish.
Geographic Distribution: Papua New Guinea, Indonesia
(Sulawesi, Flores), and the Philippines
(Fig. 70).
Habitat and Biology: C. aitha has been found in
protected or silty reef areas at depths of 5 to 33 m.
Size: Attains 14 cm standard length.
Interest to Fisheries: None.
Local Names:
Literature: Randall and Heemstra (1991).
Fig. 70