Learn & Explore/Species/Introduced & Invasive/Peacock Grouper

Peacock Grouper

Category: Invasive

A spotted reef grouper native to Indo‑Pacific, now widespread and dominant in Hawaiian waters.

Peacock Grouper (Cephalopholis argus)​

  • Dark brown body with small blue spots and blue to purple fins 1

  • Large pale area on chest and light vertical stripes on back half of body 1 

  • Can reach up to 24 inches in length 3

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Habitat

  • Occurs on coral reefs typically less than 40 feet in depth 3

  • Prefers warm, tropical water 2

Impacts & Concern

Spread through main Hawaiian islands and has become a dominant predator on reefs 2

Introduction

  • Intentionally stocked as sportfish in Hawaiʻi in 1956 2

  • Quickly became established and was a popular game fish by the 19 70s 2

Distribution in Hawai‘i

  • Kauaʻi: Present

  • O‘ahu: Present

  • Molokaʻi: Present

  • Lānaʻi: Present

  • Maui: Present

  • Hawaiʻi Island: Present

References

  1. FishBase. (2017). Cephalopholis argus summary page. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/6396

  2. USGS. (2021). peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus) – Species Profile. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=964.

  3. Smithsonian Tropical Research Center. (2015). Species: Cephalopholis argus (Peacock Grouper). Shorefishes – The Fishes – Species. https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/5572.

Other Introduced & Invasive

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Marine

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Freshwater

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Brackish

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Seaweed/Algae