Description:

Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 15-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.  

Medium-sized, moderately full-bodied grouper. Head with angular profile. Posterior nostril distinctly larger than anterior. Maxilla reaches to or past rear edge of eye. 
Projecting lower jaw with 2-4 rows of teeth at midlateral section. Caudal fin rounded.

Pale grey-brown colour with densely spaced round to polygonal brown to dark brown spots, the interstices forming a pale network pattern. Darker oblique bars of spots are 
usually visible on the flanks.  Median fins yellowish with blackish brown spots. Soft dorsal and caudal fins with pale/yellow margin. Distal half of pectoral fins dark brown 
to black without spots. Tips of dorsal spines yellow. 3-4 black blotches along back. 
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 52 cm TL

(Size at first maturity in New Caledonia was found to be 34 cm TL).
 

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs (depth 3-44 m). It is more abundant on oceanic reefs and rare on coastal reefs. Feeds mainly on crabs and fish, but also octopodes and squid.
Typically solitary. Information on the reproductive biology and life history parameters is very limited. 
Occasional catches of 10-20 of this usually scarce species in Seychelles may be indicative of spawning aggregation behaviour.  

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught primarily in the hand line fishery and to a lesser extent in the fish trap fishery, but is an 
uncommon component of the catch. 

Often confused with the similar but smaller Epinephelus merra.

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
Fennessy, S. (2018). Epinephelus macrospilos. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132766A100550362.en. (16/01/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. http://www.fishbase.se/summary/Epinephelus-macrospilos.html (16/01/19).
Heemstra, P.C. & Randall, J.E. (1993). Groupers of the World. Vol. 16 FAO Species Catalogue. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125, Volume 16. FIR/S125 Vol. 16.

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Epinephelus macrospilos, Snubnose grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/epinephelus-macrospilos-bleeker-1855/ (revised 28/07/22).