African Hind

Cephalopholis taeniops attains a maximum total length of 70 centimetres (28 in), although they are more common at around 40 centimetres (16 in). There are 9 spines and 15-16 soft rays in the dorsal fin while the anal fin has 3 spies and 9-10 soft rays. There are 68-72 scales in the lateral line, the pectoral fins are longer than the pelvic fins and the caudal fin is rounded. It has a basic colour of reddish orange with the head and body covered with small blue spots as are the dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin. The fins are blackish towards the margins while the soft-rayed part of the dorsal and anal fins and the caudal fin have a narrow bluish margin. A horizontal blue line runs immediately below the eye. A much rarer black variety also displays blue spots

Cephalopholis taeniops is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean along the western coast of Africa from Morocco to Angola. It is also found around the Cape Verde Islands and the islands in the Gulf of Guinea. In the 21st century, it has been also been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea. It has also been recorded around the Canary Islands where it is thought to have been introduced in ballast water discharged by oil platforms from West Africa.