A heavy predatory snapper that follows divers, and the main ciguatera species in the region.
To about 90 cm, deep-bodied and red-brown to dark olive, often with two pale spots high on the back below the dorsal fin — visible in some individuals and absent in others, so the name is not a reliable guide. Adults have a steep forehead and a heavy jaw; juveniles are paler with a dark stripe and are frequently found in shallow rubble.
It hunts fish and crustaceans, often in loose groups, and habitually follows divers and other large animals to take whatever is disturbed. Individuals will hold within a metre for long periods, which makes it one of the easiest large predators here to photograph. Its flesh is the most frequent single source of ciguatera poisoning across the Indo-Pacific and large individuals are avoided as food throughout the region. Recorded from about 3 to 50 m.
Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.