Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 14-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 9.

Full-bodied grouper. Head with distinctive concave dorsal profile. Opercular spines very small. Ctenoid body scales, cycloid on abdomen. Pelvic fins usually reaching or 
extending beyond anus. Caudal fin rounded.

Body and head ranges from a bright orange-red to dark reddish-brown, often with scattered small whitish blotches. Orange red spots on the head. Membrane between 
lower 2 opercular spines usually darker than rest of head. The pectoral fins are orange-red to dusky and the membranes of soft dorsal, caudal anal and pelvic fins 
are dusky. 
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range female 28-? cm, male 34-? cm. Max length : 57.0 cm TL 
 

Occur in deep lagoon reefs and steep outer reef slopes in depths up to 100 m. Juveniles are often found near sponges or coral heads. Feeds on fish and crustacea.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught primarily in the hand line fishery, and is a relatively common 
component of the catch and one of the most common amongst the serranids. 

The name "Msye Angar" is also used for the similar C. nigripinnis that the fishers do not distinguish as a separate species.

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. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2018). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Cephalopholis-sonnerati.html (06/11/18). 
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Sadovy, Y. & Leung Lap Boon, B. (2018). Cephalopholis sonnerati. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132757A100457871.en. (02/01/19).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Cephalopholis sonnerati, Tomato hind. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/cephalopholis-sonnerati-valenciennes-1828/ (edited 24/07/22).