| Family: |
Epinephelidae (Groupers) |
| Max. size: |
120 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 25 - 147 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Zanzibar, Maldives, St. Brandon's Shoals, Sri Lanka, Chagos, Nazareth Bank, Sumatra, and Fiji. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797). Subspecies, Plectropomus pessuliferus marisburi occurs in the Red Sea, while Plectropomus pessuliferus pessuliferus from the rest of the Indo-Pacific region (Ref. 3150). Often misidentified as Plectropomus maculatus. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Description: Characterized by brown to orange-red color of head, body and fins with numerous small dark-edged blue spots; 5-6 dark bars sometimes evident on upper half of side; front of jaws with pair of large canines; 1-4 large canines on side of lower jaw; elongate body, greatest depth 2.9-3.9 in SL; emarginate caudal fn; pectoral and pelvic fins 1.9-2.4 in head length (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
An uncommon species (Ref. 9710) found in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs. In the Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253). Solitary (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 November 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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