SERRANIDAE Epinephelus malabaricus, 12.1 cm SL (photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin) Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) Malabar Grouper D XI, 14-16; A III, 8; P1 18-20; P2 I, 5; LLp 54-64; GR 8-11 + 14-18. Body elongate; body depth 3.0-3.7 in SL; body width 1.4-1.9 in body depth. Head length 2.3-2.6 in SL; interorbital width 4.5-6.5 in head length. Posteroventral preopercular margin with enlarged serrae. Dorsal fin membranes incised between spines. Caudal fin moderately rounded. Pectoral fin middle rays longest, its length longer than longest pelvic fin ray length, 1.7-2.2 in head length. Lateral body scales distinctly ctenoid, with auxiliary scales; anterior lateral line tubes in large adults with 2-4 branches. Color: body usually brownish, with numerous small, well-separated blackish spots and irregular whitish blotches. Size: maximum total length uncertain, but attaining at least 115 cm. Distribution: distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from east coast of Africa and the Red Sea east to Fiji. Remarks: found in a variety of habitats, including coral and rocky reefs, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. One of the most common groupers in the Indo-West Pacific.(Hiroyuki Motomura)