Epinephelus areolatus (Forsskål in Niebuhr 1775) —Areolate grouper

Status at New Ireland. First recorded from Kavieng, New Ireland by Hamilton et al. (2005: 10); reported from Lihir Group, Namatamai District, New Ireland by Fry et al. (2006: 130).

Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 2, 3.—General distribution: Red Sea and East Africa east to Philippines and Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to northern Western Australia. Found above soft bottom, 6–200 m depth. Marine.