|
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... | 
|
| Bob Fenner |
Rypticus saponaceus |
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. | 
|
| Bigger PIX: The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size. |
 |
| 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. | 
|
| 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. |
| Bigger PIX: The images in this table are linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to the larger size. |
.JPG)
%20MD.jpg) |
| 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. | 
|
| 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. | 
|
| 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. |  
|
Bigger PIX:
The images in this table are
linked to large (desktop size) copies. Click on "framed" images to go to
the larger size. |
|
%20MD.JPG) |
Bibliography/Further Reading: Michael, Scott W. 1999. Lather up- it's the Soapfishes. AFM 6/99.
|
|
