Coney

Golden Coney, Juvenile

The Coney has a reddish or reddish-brown body covered in small, bright blue spots. It can change its appearance, sometimes becoming a bicolor form with a dark upper body and a pale underside. Less frequently, it may appear golden yellow, and some individuals are entirely dark. It has two black spots on its lower lip and two more on the upper part of its tail, just behind the dorsal fin.

The Coney is usually seen alone, often hiding in crevices or under ledges during the day. It is a top predator that hunts by remaining still and ambushing small fishes and crustaceans, and it also occasionally follows Moray and Snake Eels to catch prey they flush out. It starts life as a female and changes into a male as it grows larger, and it may live for over 25 years in some areas. Spawning occurs in small groups just before sunset over several days.