Blue Finned Rock Cod

Description: Characterized by entirely dark brown color; head and anterior body covered by numerous small, bluish-white spots, some individuals with whitish area covering most of rear half of body; body scales ctenoid, including abdomen; greatest depth of body 2.5-2.8 in SL; rounded caudal fin; pelvic fins, 1.9-2.1 in head length (Ref. 90102); flat or slightly concave interorbital area; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, lower edge fleshy; subopercle and interopercle smooth or finely serrate; upper edge of operculum very convex; naked maxilla, extending past eye (Ref. 089707).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 58534).

Adults inhabit shallow waters, usually on silty reefs, midshelf lagoons and backreef areas; feeds on fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 089707). Secretive in corals to about 20 m depth. Juveniles are found under corals with rubble substrate (Ref. 48635).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family