Diagnosis_Species: Holocentrus leopardus Lacepède. Eight goaded rays and twelve articulated rays at the fin of the back; one goaded ray and eight articulated rays at the anal fin; one goaded ray and seven articulated rays at each thoracic fin; caudal fin is crescent shaped; four large spines in the first piece, and one spine in the second piece of each operculum; a large number of small spots on the entire surface of the animal.

Other description (Kailola et al., 1993): Coral trout have 8 spines and 11 soft rays in the dorsal fin. They have a large mouth with a few large canine teeth including 1-4 along each side of the lower jaw. Their lower jaw is prominent and there are 3 large spines on the lower edge of the preoperculum. The caudal fin is blunt or slightly excavated. Body colouration and colour pattern distinguish these 3 species. Common coral trout are olive to orange-red with numerous very small, round blue spots on the head and body (more than 10 spots on the cheek). There are 2 colour forms of bluespot trout: either brown with numerous small dark blue spots or yellow with broad, saddle-like brown or black bars on the body.

Body_adult_max_length: 120 cm (fishofaustralia)
Body_adult_common_length: 35 cm (Fishbase)
Body_juvenile_2months_length: 45-85 mm (Kailola et al., 1993)
Body_sexual_maturity_length: 23-62 cm (Fishbase)
Body_egg_length: 0.80-0.82 mm (Carter et al., 2015)
Body_oil droplet_length: 0.18-0.20 mm (Carter et al., 2015)
Body_larvae_newly_hatched_length: 1.62 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_12HAH_length: 2.22 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_30HAH_length: 2.65 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_2DAH_length: 2.70 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_5DAH_length: 2.96 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_7DAH_length: 3.22 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_10DAH_length: 4.70 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_13AH_length: 6.10 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_18AH_length: 7.30 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_28AH_length: 11.8 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_48AH_length: 18.7 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_55AH_length: 25.1 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Body_larvae_65AH_length: 35.0 mm (Masuma et al., 1993)
Weight_adult_max: 23.6 kg (fishofaustralia)
Sequence_MLL: EU638078 (Li et al., 2009)
Stage_duration_larvae: 3-4 weeks (Kailola et al., 1993)