Epinephelus cyanopodus is not often seen in shallow water, preferring deeper lagoon reefs and lagoon bottom shipwrecks. I remember seeing a dozen or so on the Fumi Maru (also known as Daisan) off Gugeegue in about 45m of water. We also ran into a large school of them, possibly congregating for mating, at the base of a steep reef lining a west reef deepwater pass in the reef at Boken Island. They were at about 35m among Ellisella (red whip) gorgonians and antipatharians (black corals) in this area that sees heavy currents during tidal changes. The scientific name seems to be a combination of Latin (cyano) and Greek (podus) that appears to translate as blue foot. The first shot below shows an individual being serviced by a cleaner wrasse, Labroides bicolor. It reportedly reaches a large 120cm, although we have not seen one anywhere near that.
Younger specimens with yellow fins can be seen on shallower lagoon reefs.
Created 5 April 2017
Updated 19 June 2021