Sealife guideThe graysbyCephalopholis cruentata

Last updated on 03/11/2025 at 10:04 AM
Taxonomy
  • Common name: Graysby
  • French name: Vieille de roche, mérou coné essaim
  • Spanish name: Cherna enjambre
  • Scientific name: Cephalopholis cruentata (Lacepède, 1802)
  • Family name: Epinephelidae
  • Order name: Perciformes
  • Class name: Actinopterygii
Description
The graysby is characterized by its fins and body, which are completely covered with reddish spots. Additionally, three spots of black and sometimes white, appear on the upper part of its back.
The graysby is a fish whose maximum size can reach up to 24 inches in length.
Geographic range
The graysby is found in the northwestern waters of the Atlantic ocean, as well as in the Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It can be found along the coasts of Florida, the Florida Keys islands and the Caribbean islands like Guadeloupe.
Habitat
The graysby frequents rocky bottoms and coral reefs, where it seeks shelter in crevices or under overhangs.
Diet
The graysby primarily feeds on fish and crustaceans, which it hunts while camouflaged in its hiding spot.
Did you know ?
The graysby is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The graysby appears in the IUCN Red List since 2018 within the category Least Concern !
Within the same genus
Bluespotted grouper (Cephalopholis cyanostigma)
Bluespotted grouper
(Cephalopholis cyanostigma)
Coney (Cephalopholis fulva)
Coney
(Cephalopholis fulva)
Coral grouper (Cephalopholis miniata)
Coral grouper
(Cephalopholis miniata)
Darkfin hind (Cephalopholis urodeta)
Darkfin hind
(Cephalopholis urodeta)
Halfspotted grouper (Cephalopholis hemistiktos)
Halfspotted grouper
(Cephalopholis hemistiktos)
Pacific creolefish (Cephalopholis colonus)
Pacific creolefish
(Cephalopholis colonus)
Peacock grouper (Cephalopholis argus)
Peacock grouper
(Cephalopholis argus)
Tomato grouper (Cephalopholis sonnerati)
Tomato grouper
(Cephalopholis sonnerati)
Within the same family
Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
Atlantic Goliath Grouper
(Epinephelus itajara)
Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus)
Blacktip grouper
(Epinephelus fasciatus)
Brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)
Brown-marbled grouper
(Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)
Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)
Dusky grouper
(Epinephelus marginatus)
Greasy grouper (Epinephelus tauvina)
Greasy grouper
(Epinephelus tauvina)
Highfin coral grouper (Plectropomus oligacanthus)
Highfin coral grouper
(Plectropomus oligacanthus)
Honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra)
Honeycomb grouper
(Epinephelus merra)
Potato grouper (Epinephelus tukula)
Potato grouper
(Epinephelus tukula)
Discover also
Azure damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
Azure damselfish
(Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
Banded mud moray (Gymnothorax chlamydatus)
Banded mud moray
(Gymnothorax chlamydatus)
Green razorfish (Xyrichtys splendens)
Green razorfish
(Xyrichtys splendens)
Honeycomb cowfish (Acanthostracion polygonium)
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Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
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Slender filefish (Monacanthus tuckeri)
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Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus)
Spanish hogfish
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Yellowsaddle goatfish (Parupeneus cyclostomus)
Yellowsaddle goatfish
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The marine species in the Caribbean
Atlantic trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus)
Atlantic trumpetfish
(Aulostomus maculatus)
Azure vase sponge (Callyspongia plicifera)
Azure vase sponge
(Callyspongia plicifera)
Blue chromis (Azurina cyanea)
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(Azurina cyanea)
Flamingo tongue (Cyphoma gibbosum)
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(Cyphoma gibbosum)
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Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)
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(Lachnolaimus maximus)
Queen parrotfish (Scarus vetula)
Queen parrotfish
(Scarus vetula)
Spanish hogfish (Bodianus rufus)
Spanish hogfish
(Bodianus rufus)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
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