Genus: Cephalopholis, Graysby Grouper, Graysbies
D IX, 13-16, deep notches between spines
C rounded
teeth movable
A 8-9
CEPHALOPHOLIS
GRAYSBIES
Small groupers with robust, oblong bodies; snout much longer than eye; flat to convex between the eyes; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed, with bony knob at lower rear corner; most of teeth movable; preopercle rounded, finely serrated, no spines or notch; dorsal with IX, 13-16, membranes deeply notched between spines; pectoral fin symmetrically rounded, a scaly flap of skin joining upper part of inner side of pectoral base to body; tail base slender, its height < ½ body height; tail fin rounded; flank scales rough; body scales small.
A circumtropical genus of 26 species; with one endemic and three W Atlantic species, plus one Indo-Pacific exotic, in the Greater Caribbean.
