Species: Cromileptes altivelis, Humpback Grouper

Cromileptes altivelis (Valenciennes, 1828)

Humpback Grouper

Body compressed, oblong; head with upper profile distinctly concave, rising steeply at nape; snout bluntly pointed; rear nostril a long vertical slit; mouth reaches under rear half of eye; jaws with bands of viliform (small, conical) teeth, no canines; sides of roof of mouth with teeth; preopercle finely serrated, lower edge smooth; gill rakers short, 8-11 + 13-17; dorsal fin X, 17-19, not indented between spines and rays, membranes not indented between spines, rear spines longest, rays longer than spines; anal fin III, 9-10; pectorals rounded, 17-18; tail fin rounded; body scales smooth, 54-62 on lateral line, 106-122 along side of body.

Head, body and fins pale greenish white to light greenish brown, with dispersed round black spots, those on body larger than those on head and fins.

Reaches 70 cm; 3.5 kg; 19 years

Lives on coral reefs, but usually in silty areas.

Depth range 0-40 m.

Natural range is the junction between the west Pacific and the Indian Ocean; introduced to southeast Florida.