SEABASSES/ SOAPFISHES
(OTHER) - Serranidae
General:
Seabasses (Serranidae) are a large family, including Groupers and ("true") Hamlets, which are covered elsewhere (follow links). This page covers those species not included in the other groupings.
All Serranids have pupils shaped like watermelon/ pumpkin seeds.
Etymology
Latin, serranus = derived from saw, fish saw.
CHUB
MUTTON HAMLET
Alphestes afer
HARLEQUIN BASS
Serranus  tigrinus
SOAPFISHES
SUBFAMILY GRAMMISTINAE
General:
The Soapfishes (Subfamily Grammistinae) are distinguished somewhat by their ability to produce a "soaplike" secretion from their skin when stressed, containing the toxic peptide grammistin, which acts as a deterrent against predators.
SPOTTED SOAPFISH
Rypticus subbifrenatus
GREATER SOAPFISH
Rypticus saponaceus