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Fiji Coral Trout

Coral trout or "donu" are highly esteemed food fish in Fiji.These fish are also exported to Asia in the live fish trade and thus are susceptible to over-fishing. Commonly known as coral trout or coral groupers, these fish are sometimes also known locally as salmon cod. These tropical, shallow water, bottom living, coral reef fish are carnivorous (eats anything that fits into its mouth, high on the food chain, and sometimes can be ciguateric). They are easily caught by hook and line and sometimes by spear gun.
Their body colour varies during their successive various life stages and it can also alter depending on the background hue. Some species have 2 colour morphs.
These fish are predators, with its prominent canine teeth and eyes set high up on the head, lay in waiting in a coral recess; they see a prey, charge out, grab the prey, and rush back to the hole. Fishers would testify to be hooked up to the substrate when the hooked "donu" gets back to its lair. At other times, they mingle with the other fish and at an unguarded moment, pounce on an unsuspecting prey.
These fish live solitarily and aggregate for spawning (when they are targeted by fishers). Some of these fish begin life as a female and then change sex later on.

FDC: Variola albimarginatus (Lyretail Trout) with a cleaner wrasse Labrioides pectoralis. A symbiotic relationship exists whereby the wrasse cleans parasites from the mouth/gill region of the coral trout. The wrasse gains nutrition whilst the coral trout patiently and willingly gets the parasites removed.

(50c) Variola louti.

Known as the Coronation Trout. Very distinctive with its lunar shape tail edged by the bright yellow margin. Feeds primarily on fish and found down to 100 meters. Has an Indo-Pacific distribution.

(90c) Plectropomuspessuliferus.

Known as Roving Coral Trout. 2 subspecies. Uncommon. Feeds on other fish. Generally red with blue spots. Found from the Red Sea to Fiji.

($1.50) Plectropomus areolatus.

Known as the Squaretail Coral Trout. Feeds on fish. Generally grey with 4 saddles covered with ringed blue spots. Found from the Red Sea to Samoa.

($2) Ectropomus laevis.

Known as the Chinese Footballer or the Blacksaddled Coral Trout. There are 2 colour morphs.The lighter phase is shown on the stamp. The dark phase being brown to nearly black with body bars. Small blue dots present on head and body with the edge of fins dark brown.The juvenile colour phase mimics the soft nose pufferfish (Canthigaster volenti).

Found from East Africa to Tahiti.

$0.50	$0.90
$1.50	$2.00

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