COMMON NAMES: Lyretail Grouper, Coronation Trout, Orange-edged Lyretail, Lyretail Coral-Trout, Lyretail Grouper, Chameleon Sea-Bass; German Mondsichel-Juwelenbarsch; French Croissant Queue Jaune, Loche Caméléon

TRADITIONAL NAMES: ‘Oka (RR AT), Taratara < ‘Oka (MG), ‘Iki‘iki < ‘Oka (MK), ‘Oka Pua‘au (MT), ‘Ātea (AK), Oka (PL), Hoka (TS TW), Papavaero (MH), Papa (PK); Other Polynesian - Hoa (TAH), Mokohoko (TUA), Pere / Mataiti / Preie (MQA)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE e.Africa - Pitcairn; n. to s.Japan; s. to New Caledonia

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; PLUS: Both Groups, common, outer slope below 25m. Handline.; Marine, near-shore reef-slope and seamounts 5-250m

KEY FEATURES: To 70cm SL and 5.5kg. Body depth 3 in SL, with Dorsal and Anal Fins long-pointed posteriorly, and long lunate tail. Body and fins yellowish-brown to orange-red to purplish; spots blue to pink; hindmargins of Pectorals, Dorsal, Anal and Tail yellow. JUVENILE (to 15cm SL) brown dorsally with white lower half and fins and mid-dorsal stripe; irregular black midside stripe, and black blotch on upper tailbase; blue spots on body and fins.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Whitemargined Lyretail Grouper (Variola albimarginata) is structurally similar except lower gill rakers 13-16 (vs 15-18); and it has tail hindmargin dark with white edge (vs. yellow); and is without yellow on hindmargin of Dorsal and Anal (vs with yellow).