PRIACANTHIDAE Heteropriacanthus cruentatus, 12.2 cm SL (photo by Richard Winterbottom) Heteropriacanthus cruentatus, 12.9 cm SL (from North Sulawesi, Indonesia; photo by Seishi Kimura) Heteropriacanthus cruentatus (Lacepède, 1801) Glasseye D X, 12-13; A III, 13-14; Pl 18-19; LLp 63-81; GR 21-25. Body deep, ovate and compressed. Small teeth on dentaries, vomer, palatines, and premaxillaries. A strong spine at angle of preopercle. Caudal fin usually truncate but slightly rounded in some specimens. Posterior border of preopercle naked. Pelvic fins not very long. Color: head and body pinkish red or blotched with red and silver; iris of eye red; all fins reddish, membranes of spinous portions of dorsal fin and margin of caudal fin sometimes dusky; caudal, soft dorsal, and anal fins with elliptical dark specks. Size: maximum size to about 35 cm. Distribution: circumglobal in tropical and subtropical seas, plus temperate waters. Remarks: occuring in shallow reef or insular areas, commonly seen within 20 m depths. Marketed fresh, collected by primarily on hook and line or traps or set nets.