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)
Camouflage grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion)
Camouflage grouper
(Epinephelus polyphekadion)
Highfin coral grouper (Plectropomus oligacanthus)
Highfin coral grouper
(Plectropomus oligacanthus)
Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)
Malabar grouper
(Epinephelus malabaricus)
Red hind grouper (Epinephelus guttatus)
Red hind grouper
(Epinephelus guttatus)
Speckledfin grouper (Epinephelus ongus)
Speckledfin grouper
(Epinephelus ongus)
Starry grouper (Epinephelus labriformis)
Starry grouper
(Epinephelus labriformis)
Discover also
Banded messmate pipefish (Corythoichthys intestinalis)
Banded messmate pipefish
(Corythoichthys intestinalis)
Blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban)
Blue-barred parrotfish
(Scarus ghobban)
Filamented goby (Exyrias akihito)
Filamented goby
(Exyrias akihito)
Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
Humphead wrasse
(Cheilinus undulatus)
Mental wrasse (Oxycheilinus mentalis)
Mental wrasse
(Oxycheilinus mentalis)
Scrawled butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyeri)
Scrawled butterflyfish
(Chaetodon meyeri)
Speckled sandperch (Parapercis hexophtalma)
Speckled sandperch
(Parapercis hexophtalma)
Yellow and blueback fusilier (Caesio teres)
Yellow and blueback fusilier
(Caesio teres)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Chain moray (Echidna catenata)
Chain moray
(Echidna catenata)
Foureye butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus)
Foureye butterflyfish
(Chaetodon capistratus)
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Green sea turtle
(Chelonia mydas)
Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum)
Long-spined sea urchin
(Diadema antillarum)
Longsnout seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)
Longsnout seahorse
(Hippocampus reidi)
Princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)
Princess parrotfish
(Scarus taeniopterus)
Scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus)
Scrawled filefish
(Aluterus scriptus)
Yellow tube sponge (Aplysina fistularis)
Yellow tube sponge
(Aplysina fistularis)
Dive centers
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'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
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