Tomato hind (Cephalopholis sonnerati)

Scientific name: Cephalopholis sonnerati Valenciennes, 1828

The Tomato hind (Cephalopholis sonnerati) is a marine fish of the family Serranidae.

Biology

Occurs in deep lagoon reefs and steep outer reef slopes; encountered in coastal areas with rocky substrates. Juveniles are usually found near sponges or coral heads. Adults usually at moderate depths with bommies with large holes, usually occupied by cleaner shrimps. Usually caught in depths of 30 to 100 m, but in Madagascar, it occurs in depths of 10 to 20 m. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans including shrimps, crabs and stomatopods. Females mature at about 28 cm SL and males at about 34 cm SL. Generally marketed fresh. In Hong Kong live fish markets.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Cephalopholis sonnerati
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 57.0
Common length: 30.0
Depth range: 10–150 m (33–492 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 10 - 150 m, usually 20 - 150 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: east coast of Africa (Djibouti, Socotra to Durban) to the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to southern Queensland (Australia). Not found at the Chagos Archipelago despite intensive survey and not reported from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026