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 creolefish (Paranthias furcifer)
Atlantic creolefish
(Paranthias furcifer)
Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
Atlantic Goliath Grouper
(Epinephelus itajara)
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)
Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)
Malabar grouper
(Epinephelus malabaricus)
Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
Nassau grouper
(Epinephelus striatus)
Roving coral grouper (Plectropomus pessuliferus)
Roving coral grouper
(Plectropomus pessuliferus)
Discover also
Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)
Bigeye trevally
(Caranx sexfasciatus)
Blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban)
Blue-barred parrotfish
(Scarus ghobban)
Dwarf hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco)
Dwarf hawkfish
(Cirrhitichthys falco)
John dory (Zeus faber)
John dory
(Zeus faber)
Peacock razorfish (Iniistius pavo)
Peacock razorfish
(Iniistius pavo)
Reticulated damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus)
Reticulated damselfish
(Dascyllus reticulatus)
Roman seabream (Chrysoblephus laticeps)
Roman seabream
(Chrysoblephus laticeps)
Tail-spot wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
Tail-spot wrasse
(Halichoeres melanurus)
The marine species from Caribbean sea
Bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo)
Bonnethead shark
(Sphyrna tiburo)
Checkered puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus)
Checkered puffer
(Sphoeroides testudineus)
Longspine squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus)
Longspine squirrelfish
(Holocentrus rufus)
Scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus)
Scrawled filefish
(Aluterus scriptus)
Short bigeye (Pristigenys alta)
Short bigeye
(Pristigenys alta)
Smooth trunkfish (Rhinesomus triqueter)
Smooth trunkfish
(Rhinesomus triqueter)
Spotted goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus)
Spotted goatfish
(Pseudupeneus maculatus)
Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Tiger shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier)
Dive centers
Centre de plongée des Ilets
'Les Ilets' dive center
Noa Plongée
Noa dive center
Vous abonnez !

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