6 photos - 4 species
Introduction
A small family consisting of 8 genera and 30 species.
They have the bitter-tasting mucus poison gramistin, which is released in stressful situations and deters predators.
They grow to a maximum length of 35 cm, but almost all species remain smaller.
Diploprion bifasciatum
Barred soapfish, Doublebanded soapfish, Two-banded sea perch,
Two-banded soapfish, Yellow emperor or Yellow striped grouper
Maximum length: 25 cm
Depth: 1 - 40 m.
Yellow body with a narrow band over the eye and a broad one on the hind body.
Found singly or in small, loose groups in coastal reefs, also in turbid and slightly muddy water.
Photo 1 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Diploprion drachi
Yellofin soapfish
Maximum length: 14 cm
Depth: 3 - 40 m
Very easy to recognize by its yellow eyespot.
Not very shy, only leaves its hiding place at sunset to hunt small fish and crabs.
Lives singly and in pairs.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Grammistes sexlineatus
Golden-striped soapfish, Lined soapfish, Golden-striped bass, Radiofish, Six-line soapfish, Six-lined perch or White-lined rock cod
Maximum length: 27 cm
Depth: 1 - 40 m
Their white stripes dissolve with age.
Live on reef tops, lagoons, outer reefs and in channels.
Always close to hiding places at the base of reefs, difficult to detect.
Produce the poisonous, bitter skin mucus gramistin, which protects them from predators,
this poison can even kill other fish if kept in an aquarium.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Photo 2 Johnny: El Quesir Egypt
Rypticus saponaceus
Greater soapfish
Maximum length: 33 cm
Depth: 5 - 20 m
Marbled, covered with pale, blurred spots and dots.
Hidden and inactive during the day, usually lying on the bottom or leaning against corals.
At night it mainly hunts cardinalfish.
It owes its name to a soap-like skin secretion that it secretes.
Lets divers get very close to it and only retreats when threatened.
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Photo 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean