Description:

Dorsal spines: 8; Dorsal rays: 12-13; Anal spines: 2; Anal rays: 8.

Small, deep-bodied grouper. Characteristic skin flap at tip of chin. Caudal fin rounded.

Colour. Body brown with close set white spots forming a reticulated pattern, including on the fins.  Five black saddles, first through the eye, second on nape, third to fifth 
dorsally. Spinous portion of dorsal fin yellow. A much smaller black blotch is also apparent on the on the upper caudal fin base. 
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 30.0 cm TL

Reef associated. Found in deep water coral heads and rocky reefs  (depth 25-100 m).
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery, but is a rare to very rare component of the catch. 
 

Borsa, P. et al. (2018). Pogonoperca ocellata. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T117016720A117017164.en. (16/03/19).
Craig, M.T. et al. (2011). Groupers of the World - a field and market guide. NISC (Pty) Ltd, South Africa. ISBN: 978-1-920033-11-8
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pogonoperca-ocellata.html (16/03/19).
Kimura, S. et al. (2019). Fishes of the Andaman Sea. Pognoperca ocellata. https://www.kahaku.go.jp/research/db/zoology/Fishes_of_Andaman_Sea/contents/serranidae/32.html  (16/03/19).
Kuiter, R.H. (2014). Fishes of the Maldives: Indian Ocean, Cairns, Australia, Atoll Editions. ISBN: 978–1–876410–97–1.

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Pogonoperca ocellata, Indian soapfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/pogonoperca-ocellata-gunther-1859/ (edited 09/08/22).