Appearance varies considerably with age, and difficult to distinguish from a few other Epinephelus species. Characteristics that best distinguish it include the dense circular (rather than hexagonal) dark spots over the lower portion of the body and head, but not on the upper portion (except smaller individuals, which can have the fine spots all over). The dark blotch on the top of the tale base is also usually black, or at least much darker than other dark blotches along the back.

• Max Size: 90 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 20.9-30.9°C
• Depth: 1-46 m
• Habitat: Coral Reef
• Habitat Generalisation Index: 14.2
  Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here

• Threats: Exploitation, Habitat degradation
• IUCN Threat Status: Near Threatened
• Occurrence: Frequent (10% of sites)
  Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
• Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.