The Panther Grouper (Cromileptes altivelis) is a marine (saltwater) fish in the Serranidae family of groupers and sea bass. It is also known as the Polka Dot Grouper, High-Finned Grouper, Humpback Grouper, and Barramundi Cod.
The Panther Grouper has a laterally compressed, flat body. It has a greyish-yellowish-brown coloured background with small, darker spots all over its body. It is high at front of its back, which makes it look humpbacked.
It grows up to 70 centimetres (28 inches) long.
It is found in the tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean. It prefers reefs and lagoons.
The Panther Grouper feeds on small fish and crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimp. It is an ambush predator, feeding mainly at sunrise and sunset.
It is solitary.
The female lays eggs, which hatch into young. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, which means that all of the young are born female, and transform into males as they age. The young have a white background with round black spots.
Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM