SERRANIDAE


Plectropomus pessuliferus
(photo by Mark Strickland)


Plectropomus pessuliferus
Fowler, 1904
Roving Coralgrouper

D VII-VIII, 10-12; A III, 8; P1 15-16; P2 I, 5; LLp 85-104; LGR 7-10.

Body elongate; its depth 2.9-3.9 in SL. Head length 2.7-3.1 in SL. Ventral margin of preopercle with 3 large spines. Opercle with 3 flat spines, upper and lower spines covered by skin. Anal-fin spines weak; first and second spines covered by skin. Caudal fin emarginate in adults, truncate in juveniles. Color: body and fins brown to orange-red, with numerous small dark-edged blue spots; some spots on lateral surface of body vertically elongate in adults; spots few or absent on ventral part of body; spots on fins more bluish. Size: maximum length at least 63 cm. Distribution: known from scattered localities in the Indo-West Pacific. Remarks: found on coral reefs at depths of 25-147 m.(Hiroyuki Motomura)