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Related FAQs: Basses called
Soapfishes,
Related Articles: Basses,
/A Diversity of Aquatic
Life
The Soapfishes,
Family Grammistidae, or Tribe Grammistini of the Serranidae, in part, or...
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By Bob Fenner
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Rypticus saponaceus
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Two Species: Notes of Interest:
| Belonoperca chabanaudi Fowler & Bean 1930, the
Arrowhead
Soapfish. Indo-Pacific, far West Pacific to East Africa. To six inches in
length. Shy and retiring species found singly under overhangs and in caves. |
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| Diploprion bifasciatum Cuvier 1828, the Barred
Soapfish. Indo-west Pacific. To ten inches long in the wild. A shy, but
beautiful addition to a reasonably peaceful aquarium setting. Eats small
fishes in wild. Hides in/around caves. Below, light aquarium four
inch juvenile, eight inch adult light and dark phase
Australian specimens of Diploprion bifasciatum. |
| Diploprion drachi Roux-Esteve 1955, the Yellowfin
Soapfish. Red Sea (where this picture was taken) and Gulf of Aden. To five
and a half inches in length. Shy species that hides near rocky reefs and
masks behind larger fishes to sneak up on fish prey. |
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| Grammistes sexlineatus (Thunberg 1932), the Sixline
Soapfish or Grouper. Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea. To twelve inches
in length. For calm surroundings with caves, of adequate size, that are
well-filtered . Juveniles in the Red Sea and Maldives, and adult in captivity. Monotypic genus. |
| Pogonoperca punctata (Valenciennes 1830), the Clown
Grouper. Indo-Pacific. To fourteen inches maximum length. A shy,
unusual-looking soapfish member that makes its way into the trade on a
regular basis. Needs plenty of shelter to feel at ease in captivity.
Aquarium image. One other species in this genus. |
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| Rypticus nigripinnis (Bloch & Schneider 1801), the
Greater Soapfish. Tropical west Atlantic. To eight inches in length. A
dark band over the eyes/forehead distinguishes this species from the
sympatric R. bicolor found in about the same range. Galapagos image. |
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| Rypticus saponaceus Gill 1861, the
Blackgill Soapfish. Eastern Pacific; Sea of Cortez to Northern Peru,
Galapagos. To thirteen inches in length.
Somber, but of an interesting shape. Occasionally imported into pet-fish
markets. In Cozumel, Mexico and Bonaire. There are eight species in this genus. |
 
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Bibliography/Further Reading:
Michael, Scott W. 1999. Lather
up- it's the Soapfishes. AFM 6/99.
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