Pygoplites diacanthus (Boddaert 1772) —Regal angelfish (Fig. 96)

Status at New Ireland. First recorded from St. Mathias as Holacanthus diacanthus by Duncker & Mohr (1929: 73), based on ZMH 11737-11738. Specimens photographed in Kavieng region on 1, 3 and 4 June 2013 during ACIAR Aquarium Survey (see Teitelbaum et al. 2013: 14). A specimen photographed at Lissenung Island, Kavieng District, 10 m depth, by Dean Tully on 24 June 2013 , another at St. KVG 17 ( Bismarck Sea side of northern Kavieng District) by Serge Andréfouët on 18 Aug. 2014 , and photographed at St. KVG25 (off southeastern New Hanover) by Serge Andréfouët on 22 Aug. 2014 .

Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 1, 2, 4.—General distribution: Red Sea and East Africa east to Line and Tuamotu islands, north to southern Japan and Ogasawara Islands, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia. Solitary or in pairs, in lagoon and seaward coral reefs, 1–48 m depth. Marine.