Plectropomus oligacanthus

Plectropomus areolatus differs in having small uniformly sized blue spots over head and body (vs. horizontal to oblique blue lines on head, vertical blue lines or dashes along sides of body (at least in adults) and spots elsewhere) and dorsal and anal fins with spots (vs. with blue lines and spots).

Plectropomus laevis differs in having pectoral-fin rays 16–18 (vs. 14–16); head pale white and yellowish with a black saddle over eye if “pale” form, or round to oval spots uniform in size if “dark” form (vs. head with vertical blue lines) and yellow, sometimes with black if “pale” form, or blue spots if “dark” form (vs. dorsal and anal fins with blue lines and spots).

Plectropomus leopardus differs in having a blue ring around eye (vs. no blue ring); small, round blue spots over head and body (vs. horizontal to oblique blue lines on head, vertical blue lines or dashes along sides of body (at least in adults) and spots elsewhere) and no spots ventrally (vs. spots ventrally).

Plectropomus maculatus differs in having few spots, many oval or elongate, on the head with 3–7 on cheek (below and behind the eye to rear edge of preopercle) (vs. horizontal to oblique blue lines on head); spots on body round and oval, becoming more uniformly round posteriorly (vs. vertical blue lines or dashes along sides of body (at least in adults) and spots elsewhere) and dorsal and anal fins with blue spots only (vs. with blue lines and spots).

Plectropomus pessuliferus differs in having some spots on head horizontally elongate, and some on the sides of body vertically elongate (vs. horizontal to oblique blue lines on head, vertical blue lines or dashes along sides of body (at least in adults)) and dorsal and anal fins with blue spots only (vs. blue lines and spots).

Variola spp. differ in having 9 dorsal-fin spines (vs. 7–8); lower edge of preopercle smooth (vs. lower edge of preopercle with 1 to 3 enlarged spines) and caudal fin lunate (vs. emarginate).