Pacific creolefish

Paranthias colonus

''Paranthias colonus'' is a species of grouper found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. They are typically found in small aggregations well above reefs, but will retreat to the reef at the approach of danger. They form large midwater schools while feeding on plankton. They occur up the a depth of 100 m. They feed mainly on small planktonic animals that are picked individually from the water, made possible by their shortened snout which facilitates close-range binocular vision.
Pacific Creolefish - Paranthias colonus The Pacific Creolefish - Paranthias colonus has body gray to greenish gray to brownish red, becoming pinkish red ventrally. A few conspicuous light spots in a line on body, below dorsal fin. Tail deeply forked; all fins reddish. Small mouth. Cocos Island,Costa Rica,Creolefish,Fish,Geotagged,Pacific creolefish,Paranthias colonus,Spring

Appearance

From: The body of the Pacific creolefish is elongate, fusiform. The head is small, both profiles are convex. There are 37–44 rakers on the first gill arch. Dorsal rays IX, 19–21; anal rays III, 9-11; pectoral rays 19–23. The tail fin is strongly concave. Pacific creolefish grow to ~36 cm.

Pacific creolefish young are often bright yellow with five small dark spots on back. The adults are greenish brown dorsally and reddish below, with five white or blue-white spots on the back. The fins are reddish.
Pacific creolefish - Paranthias colonus Creolefish,Fish,Mexico,Pacific Creolefish,Paranthias colonus,Socorro

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Peru, including the Revillagigedo, Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos Island, and Malpelo islands.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderPerciformes
FamilyEpinephelidae
GenusParanthias
SpeciesP. colonus
Photographed in
Costa Rica
Mexico