Fish
Foursaddle Rockcod
Epinephelus spilotoceps
A small reef grouper netted in dark polygonal spots, with a bold black blotch and a series of saddle marks running back to the tail base.
Also known as viersaal- malabar
- Typical size
- Attains 35 cm
- Habitat
- Coral and rocky reef
The foursaddle rockcod is covered in close-set, dark polygonal spots whose pale gaps form a network, broken by a prominent black blotch at the base of the last four dorsal spines, two smaller blotches under the soft dorsal, and a further dark saddle on the tail base. The spots shrink and darken towards the snout. It reaches about 35 cm.
It occurs across the western Indian Ocean from Natal to Kenya, and out to Madagascar, the Comores, Seychelles and Mauritius, holding to reef.