Humpback Grouper
Cromileptes altivelis
Sighting evidence at Gunung Api Lava Flows, Banda Sea
Humpback grouper, recognizable by their white-and-black spotted pattern and distinctively concave head profile, lurk in the lava overhangs at Gunung Api and ambush passing fish and crustaceans with a rapid suction strike. As solitary territorial predators, they establish fixed home ranges and their continued presence at a site is an indicator of low fishing pressure. In many parts of Indonesia they have been heavily targeted for the live reef food fish trade, making their abundance around protected Gunung Api especially notable.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Humpback Grouper is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.