Distribution & Ecology: Endemic to the region; Austral (Rimatara, Rurutu); Society (Maiao, Tahiti); Marquesas (Tahuata, Ua Pou); Tuamotu (Moruroa, Nihuru, Takapoto, Tenarunga) - Marine; Deep (120-350m); Hard bottom.

Regional Records: ? Plesionika pacifica - Manach & Carsin, 1985: 473 (Moruroa and/or Fangataufa). - Crosnier, 1986a: 362 - Both, ? not P. pacifica Edmonson, 1952 = P. rubrior (Cf. remark). - Plesionika sp. nov. 3 - Poupin et al., 1990: 16 (French Polynesia). - Plesionika rubrior Chan & Crosnier, 1991: 433, fig. 7a-f, 25-28 (Syn.; Maiao, Moruroa, Nihuru, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tahiti, Takapoto, Tenarunga; 120-350m; coll. Frv Marara, fr). - Poupin, 1996b: 12, pl. 5b (Same material); 1998: 29 (Checklist). - Remark: Plesionika pacifica is mentioned from a lost specimen, caught around Moruroa (Manac'h & Carsin, 1985; Crosnier, 1986a). In fact, the most probable identity for this material would be P. rubrior. - New localities from photographs (det. T.Y. Chan), Marquesas, coll. Frv Marara stn 300, Tahuata Island, trap 190 m, stn 288, Ua Pou, trap 120 m.

Depth distribution: 120 - 350 m