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
Blacktip grouper (Epinephelus fasciatus)
Blacktip grouper
(Epinephelus fasciatus)
Camouflage grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion)
Camouflage grouper
(Epinephelus polyphekadion)
Greasy grouper (Epinephelus tauvina)
Greasy grouper
(Epinephelus tauvina)
Highfin coral grouper (Plectropomus oligacanthus)
Highfin coral grouper
(Plectropomus oligacanthus)
Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)
Malabar grouper
(Epinephelus malabaricus)
Potato grouper (Epinephelus tukula)
Potato grouper
(Epinephelus tukula)
Red grouper (Epinephelus morio)
Red grouper
(Epinephelus morio)
Redmouth grouper (Aethaloperca rogaa)
Redmouth grouper
(Aethaloperca rogaa)
Discover also
Black and gold chromis (Neoglyphidodon nigroris)
Black and gold chromis
(Neoglyphidodon nigroris)
Dusky damselfish (Stegastes fuscus)
Dusky damselfish
(Stegastes fuscus)
Goldflake angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus)
Goldflake angelfish
(Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus)
Grunt sculpin (Rhamphocottus richardsonii)
Grunt sculpin
(Rhamphocottus richardsonii)
Hook-nosed sole (Heteromycteris hartzfeldii)
Hook-nosed sole
(Heteromycteris hartzfeldii)
Northern stargazer (Astroscopus guttatus)
Northern stargazer
(Astroscopus guttatus)
Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)
Stoplight parrotfish
(Sparisoma viride)
Tessellated blenny (Hypsoblennius invemar)
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The marine species from Caribbean sea
Azure vase sponge (Callyspongia plicifera)
Azure vase sponge
(Callyspongia plicifera)
Glasseye snapper (Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)
Glasseye snapper
(Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)
Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
Great barracuda
(Sphyraena barracuda)
Red grouper (Epinephelus morio)
Red grouper
(Epinephelus morio)
Saucereye porgy (Calamus calamus)
Saucereye porgy
(Calamus calamus)
Scrawled cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis)
Scrawled cowfish
(Acanthostracion quadricornis)
Short bigeye (Pristigenys alta)
Short bigeye
(Pristigenys alta)
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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