Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 17-18; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8-9.

Full bodied dark brown to black grouper, sometimes with an orange-red cast, with bright red coloration to inside of mouth and gill cavities. Red band on pectoral fins and 
white bar on stomach in some specimens. Distal part of the spinous dorsal fin ranges from dark orange to brownish red. Caudal fin truncate. Juveniles have a broad white 
posterior margin to the caudal fin. Small juveniles below 6 cm TL are reported to mimic Angelfish (Centropyge spp).

Maturity: Lm ?, range 34 - ? cm. Max length: 60.0 cm TL. Typically 40-45 cm TL.

Found in coastal reefs and lagoons, in or near caves and holes in the reef (depth 1-60 m). Commonly occurs on reefs without high coral cover. Feeds mainly on small 
fishes and crustaceans. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line and fish trap fishery. It is a regular but not numerous component of the catch.

In a genetic study of Epinepheline groupers, Ma & Craig (2018) concluded that this species belongs in the genus Cephalopholis.

Bester, C. (2017). Aethaloperca rogaa. Florida museum. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/aethaloperca-rogaa/ (29/12/18).
Bray, D.J. (2018). Aethaloperca rogaa in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4407 (29/12/18). 
Craig, M.T. et al. (2011). Groupers of the World - a field and market guide. NISC (Pty) Ltd, South Africa. ISBN: 978-1-920033-11-8
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2018). FishBase. http://www.fishbase.se/summary/6441 (29/12/18).
Ma, K.Y. & Craig, M.T.  (2018). An Inconvenient Monophyly: An Update on the Taxonomy of the Groupers (Epinephelidae). Copeia: October 2018, Vol. 106, No. 3, pp. 443-456.
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Rhodes, K. et al. (2018). Aethaloperca rogaa. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132814A46630792.en. (29/12/18).
 

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Aethaloperca rogaa, Redmouth grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/aethaloperca-rogaa-forsskal-1775/ (edited 24/07/22).