SERRANIDAE Plectropomus areolatus, 45.0 cm SL (photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin) Plectropomus areolatus (Rüppell, 1830) Squaretail Coralgrouper D VII-VIII, 10-12; A III, 8; P1 15-16; P2 I, 5; LLp 83-97; LGR 2-7. 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 truncate to slightly emarginate. Color: body and fins greenish gray to brown or brownish red, with numerous round to oval dark-edged blue spots. caudal fin margin with a white edge and often with a blackish submarginal band. Size: maximum length about 100 cm. Distribution: known from insular localities in the Indo-Pacific. No records from the Red Sea or Australia. Remarks: found on coral reefs in lagoons and on outer reefs at depths of 2-20 m. Feeds mainly on fishes.(Hiroyuki Motomura)