Appearance
''Plectropomus pessuliferus'' reaches a maximum length of 120 cm and at least 63 cm . These large fishes have massive bodies and head with prominent eyes and characteristic large jaw and lips. Their pectoral and caudal fins are darker, sometimes brown, spotted with blue dots. They have very variable colors, from white or beige to red, with large irregular vertical grayish bands. The whole body is covered with blue dots. They have 7-9 dorsal spines, 10-12 dorsal soft rays, three anal spines and eight anal soft rays.This species is rather similar and often misidentified as ''Plectropomus maculatus''.
Naming
Subspecies include:⤷ ''Plectropomus pessuliferus marisrubri'' Randall & Hoese, 1986
⤷ ''Plectropomus pessuliferus pessuliferus''
Distribution
This widespread but quite rare species can be found in the Indo-Pacific, from Red Sea to Fiji , Israel, Jordan, Mozambique, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Zanzibar, Maldives, Laccadives, St. Brandon's Shoals, Sri Lanka, Chagos, Nazareth Bank and Fiji). These fishes live in coral reef, in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs, at a depth range of 25 - 147 m.Behavior
This carnivorous species mainly feed on fishes and crustaceans. These fishes sometimes engage in cooperative hunting with the giant moray and with the humphead wrasse .Habitat
This widespread but quite rare species can be found in the Indo-Pacific, from Red Sea to Fiji , Israel, Jordan, Mozambique, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Zanzibar, Maldives, Laccadives, St. Brandon's Shoals, Sri Lanka, Chagos, Nazareth Bank and Fiji). These fishes live in coral reef, in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs, at a depth range of 25 - 147 m.References:
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