Key to the species of Pristigenys from the Indo-West Pacific

1a. Soft dorsal-fin rays 12; anal soft rays 11; many red narrow bars on body with many red spots between bars in adult fresh specimens, mid-lateral scales (Figure 1) with posterior spinules coarse and few in number (less than 25 at all sizes, Starnes, 1988, figure 1b).................................................................................... P. m e y e r i

1b. Soft dorsal-fin rays 11; anal soft rays 10; five white or light indistinct bars on body; mid-lateral scales with posterior spinules finer, more numerous (25–55 in specimens over 150 mm SL, Figures 7, 8)....................................... 2a

2a. Soft portions of vertical fins with black margins (usually persisting in preserved specimens); five white or pale vertical bands on body narrower and distinct, about 1/4–2/5 width of pupil; dorsal and ventral portions of third vertical band only slightly wider than mid-lateral portion and nearly vertical (Figures 2 A, 3A, 6A); total gill rakers on first arch 23–26, mode 24 (6–9 on upper limb, 16–18 on lower); posterior spinules on mid-lateral scales lower in number, usually 20-40 (mean of S1–S4, see Figure 1) in specimens over 150 mm SL (Figure 7 A) though decreasing in very large individuals (> 250 mm SL); caudal fin more rounded (Figures 1 A, 6A)............................................................. P. refulgens (Figure 2 A)

2b. Soft portions of vertical fins lacking black margins; five white or pale vertical bands (often indistinct) on body somewhat wider, around 1/2–3/5 width of pupil diameter (Figures 2 B, 3B–D, 6B) with dorsal and ventral portions expanded obliquely posterodorsally (often strongly curved posteriorly in young less than 100 mm SL (Figures 2 B, 3B–D); total gill rakers on first arch 27–31, mode 27 (7–10 on upper limb, 19–22 on lower); posterior spinules on mid-lateral scales finer and more numerous, usually 35–60 in specimens over 150 mm SL (Figure 7 B) increasing with growth; caudal fin somewhat double emarginate in adults............................................................................. P. niphonia (Figure 2 B)