SERRANIDAE Epinephelus fasciatus, 11.4 cm SL (photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin) Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775) Blacktip Grouper D XI, 15-17; A III, 8; P1 18-20; P2 I, 5; LLp 49-75; GR 6-8 + 15-17. Body moderately elongate; body depth less than head length, 2.8-3.3 in SL. Head length 2.3-2.6 in SL. Posteroventral preopercular margin serrated. Dorsalfin membranes distinctly incised between spines. Caudal fin slightly to moderately rounded; central Pacific specimens often with truncate caudal fins. Pectoral fin middle rays longest, its length longer than longest pelvicfin ray length, 1.5-2.0 in head length. Lateral body scales distinctly ctenoid, with numerous auxiliary scales; nape and dorsoposterior part of head densely covered with minute auxiliary scales. Color: body greenish gray, pale reddish yellow to scarlet, often with 5 or 6 faint dark bars. Fins reddish orange, pale yellowish green or greenish brown; outer triangular part of interspinous membranes of dorsal fin black. Size: maximum length about 40 cm. Distribution: distributed in the Indo- West Pacific, from the Red Sea east to the Pitcairn Islands, including Korea south to southern Queensland, Australia. Remarks: inhabits in shallow coral and rocky reefs to depths of 160 m.(Hiroyuki Motomura)