Variola albimarginata

Osteichthyes Serranidae Genus Variola Variola albimarginata

Lyretail grouper VRA

26.5 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Head orange-yellow, densly spotted with red spots, centered with pale blue to pink spots. Body brownish or orange or purplish with numerous irregular, oblique to horizontal broken lines alternating with horizontal rows of pale blue to pinkish spots on body. Caudal fin darker red with a blackish submarginal region and narrow white edge.

Size:

Up to 60 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo–West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Coral reefs, from 4 to 200 m depth.

Similar species:

Variola louti
Coronation grouper

Variola louti differs in having a yellow margin of caudal fin (vs. white).

to Variola louti

Plectropomus spp.

Plectropomus leopardus

Plectropomus spp. differ in having 7–8 dorsal-fin spines (vs. 9); lower edge of preopercle with 1 to 3 enlarged spines (vs. lower edge of preopercle smooth) and caudal fin emarginate to truncate (vs. lunate).

to Plectropomus spp.

Internal links:

Variola albimarginata gallery

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM