-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Ray-finned Fishes (Class Actinopterygii)

-Perches, Scorpionfishes, Sticklebacks, and Allies (Order Perciformes)

-Perches, Groupers and Allies (Suborder Percoidei)

-Groupers (Family Epinephelidae)

-Mutton Hamlets (Genus Alphestes)

-Pacific Mutton Hamlet (Alphestes immaculatus)

The Pacific Mutton Hamlet (Alphestes immaculatus) is a small, stocky grouper native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, commonly found along rocky reefs and coral areas from the Gulf of California to Central America. Typically reaching 20–30 cm in length, this solitary fish is a sit-and-wait predator that feeds on small fishes and crustaceans, often becoming more active during dusk and nighttime hours.