SERRANIDAE Diploprion bifasciatum, 12.8 cm SL (Photo by Seishi Kimura) Diploprion bifasciatum Cuvier, 1828 Barred Soapfish D VIII, 13-16; A II, 12-13; P1 17-18; P2 I, 5; LLp 71-76. Body deep, compressed; body depth greater than head length, 2.0-2.4 in SL. Preopercular, subopercular and interopercular margins serrated. Caudal fin rounded. Posterior tip of depressed pelvic fin extending beyond anal fin origin. Scales mainly ctenoid, not deeply embedded. Color: body yellow with a black bar through eye and a broad one in middle of body continuing onto posterior twothirds of spinous portion of dorsal fin. Size: maximum length 25 cm. Distribution: distributed in the Indo- West Pacific, from India east to New Caledonia, including southern Japan. Remarks: found in coral reefs and adjacent habitats in depths of 5-50 m.(Hiroyuki Motomura)