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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: peacock hind
Synonyms and Other Names: bluespotted grouper; peacock grouper; peacock rockcod; roi
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification:
Synonyms: Serranus myriaster, Cephalopholis guttatus.
Previous reports (e.g., Maciolek 1984) refer to this species as Cephalopholis guttatus.
The peacock hind has 9-11 gill rakers on the upper limb, 17-19 rakers on the lower limb. The dorsal fin has IX spines and 15-17 branched rays; anal fin has III spines and 9 rays. The pectoral-fin rays count 16-18. Lateral line scales number from 46 to 51.
Overall, the body is dark brown. Small blue ocelli ringed in black cover the body. Five to six pale vertical bars are often apparent posterior to the pectoral fins and a large white patch occurs on the breast. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins generally with a narrow white band along their posterior margins. The distal part of the pectoral fins are often edged in maroon-brown.
The peacock hind is sometimes confused with C. cyanostigma, the bluespotted hind. The bluespotted hind has a similar colour pattern, with a reddish-brown background and blue ocelli covering the body. However, the pectoral fins of the bluespotted hind are edged in yellow-orange distally; additionally blue ocelli only appear on the proximal portion of the fins. The body of the bluespotted hind has pale spots containing 1-3 small blue spots and 5-6 chain-like dark bars. In addition to the differences in colour pattern, the bluespotted hind has only 8 anal-fin rays (as opposed to 9 in the peacock hind). Additionally, the bluespotted hind has fewer gill rakers (7-9 upper, 14-18 lower) than the peacock hind.
From Randall and Ben-Tuvia 1983; Heemstra and Randall 1993; Carpenter and Niem 1999.
Size: To 60 cm TL (Froese and Pauly 2004)
Native Range:
This common and widely-distributed grouper ranges from the Red Sea to South Africa and east to French Polynesia and the Pitcairn Islands group, including northern Australia, Lord Howe Island and southern Japan (Heemstra and Randall 1993; Carpenter and Niem 1999).
Early reports (from Valenciennes in 1828 and Quoy & Gammard in 1824) listed the species from Hawaii; however, these reports are considered erroneous (see Randall and Ben-Tuvia 1983; Randall and Heemstra 1991; Mundy 2005).
Nonindigenous Occurrences: In Hawaii, 571 small individuals from Moorea (Society Islands) were released off the islands of Oahu and Hawaii in 1956 (Randall 1987). These fish became established in the Hawaiian Islands and entered the commercial and sport fisheries by the early 1970s (Randall and Kanayama 1972). The peacock hind has subsequently spread through the islands. The species is present in the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park (Tilmant 1999). In Florida, the peacock hind has been seen off Boca Raton in 2004 (T. Jackson, pers. comm.), Pompano Beach in 2005 (Reef 2008) and Key West in 2006 (T. Jackson, pers. comm.).
Ecology:
This common grouper occurs on coral reefs over a depth range of 1-40 m, typically less than 10 m (Shpigel and Fishelson 1989b; Heemstra and Randall 1993). The species is territorial, and partitions its habitat into large (up to 2000 m2) territories occupied by a male and up to 12 females and sub-territories, each inhabited by a single female (Shpigel and Fishelson 1989b, 1991). Like many groupers, the peacock hind is a protogynous hermaphrodite, and switches from a female to a male during its lifespan. Courtship behavior was described by Donaldson (1995).
The species feeds primarily at night in Madagascar (Harmelin-Viven and Bouchon 1976), but feeds during the early morning and late afternoon in the Red Sea (Shpigel and Fishelson 1989a,b). In a study in Madagascar, the species was reported to feed during the day and night, although prey captured at night were larger (Harmelin-Viven and Bouchon 1976). The diet is comprised mainly of fishes (generally over 80%), but also includes some invertebrates (Randall and Brock 1960; Harmelin-Viven and Bouchon 1976; Shpigel & Fishelson 1989a).
The peacock hind is able to consume surprisingly large prey items; one report documented that a 231 mm peacock hind consumed a 203 mm prey fish (Randall and Brock 1960). The peacock hind is an important food-fish throughout the Indo-West Pacific region; however, due to its carnivorous nature, it has been blamed for numerous cases of Ciguatera poisoning in both the native and introduced ranges (Randall 1987; Heemstra and Randall 1993). It is also a popular aquarium fish.
Means of Introduction: Intentionally stocked as a food/sport fish in Hawaii. If confirmed, the Florida sighting is probably the result of an aquarium release.
Status: Established in Hawaii (Randall and Kanayama 1972; Courtenay et al. 1991) as far north as Ni'ihau (Randall et al. 1993; Mundy 2005). Reported in Florida.
Impact of Introduction: Unknown.
Remarks: The peacock hind is an important food-fish in the Indo-Pacific, and was transferred from Moorea in the Society Islands to the islands of Oahu and Hawaii in 1956 for culture there (Randall 1987). Since that time, the species has spread throughout the island chain.
Reef. 2008. Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Exotic species sighting programs and volunteer database. World wide web electronic publication. www.reef.org, date of download March 10, 2008.
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Pamela J. Schofield and Pam Fuller
Revision Date: 1/7/2009 Citation for this information:
Pamela J. Schofield and Pam Fuller. 2009. Cephalopholis argus. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=964> Revision Date: 1/7/2009
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