Name: Yellowfin Hind
Local name: Shnenowa
Scientific name: Cephalopholis hemistiktos
Classification: Class: ray-finned fishes; Order: perch-likes; Family: groupers (Serranidae)
Synonym: Cephalopholis miniatus
Size: This species may reach a maximum total length of at least 35 cm.
Habitat:
It is the most common grouper in coral assemblages, but also occurs in rocky areas, down to depths of 55 m, feeding on fishes and crustaceans. Pairs of this obligate monogamous species defend a common territory of up to 60 m2.
Distribution:
It only occurs in the seas surrounding the Arabian Peninsula and east to Pakistan.
Conservation status:
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies it as Near Threatened (NT) in both the global assessment and the regional assessment for the Arabian Gulf. It is caught with hook-and-line and in traps.
Description:
The Yellowfin Hind is distinguished from similar species in Qatar by the following combination of characters: There are nine spines and 14 or 15 soft rays in the dorsal fin. The hind margin of the caudal fin is rounded and pectoral fins are pointed. Body and head coloration is dark brown to red, with small dark-edged blue spots, which are more numerous ventrally. The caudal fin, soft portion of the dorsal and anal fins, and the bases of the pectoral fins also have small dark-edged blue spots. There are two common color phases: one with a large pale yellowish area posteriorly on the body, and the other with four indistinct dark bars on the body and brown blotches on the head.
