Description:

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

Medium-sized grouper with moderately elongated body. Pointed head. Interorbital area flat.  Rear edge of maxilla reches or exceeds vertical of posterior edge of orbit. Small 
or absent canines at front of jaws; 3-5 rows of small teeth in midlateral part of lower jaw. Preopercle rounded and finely serrate. Inconspicuous opercular spines. Caudal fin 
rounded.

Colour. Brownish grey to dark grey, with small pale spots and large pale blotches of variable size. 4 or 5 indistinct black blotches at base of the dorsal fin and a black 
saddle on the rear of the caudal peduncle. Broad pale bar on peduncle and base of caudal fin. Prominent black streak on maxillary groove.

Large adults (over 40cm SL) brownish, covered with indistinct contiguous small pale spots. Juveniles (less than 20cm SL) dark grey to black, covered with prominent pupil-size 
white spots and smaller white dots (Craig 2011).  
 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range 42-? cm. Max Length: 76 cm TL.

Reef associated species that occurs in rocky or coral rich areas of deep lagoons, channels and outer reef slopes usually in or near caves (depth 2-65 m). Juveniles are found 
in mangroves and tide pools. Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Typically solitary.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap and hand line fisheries, it is a regular but not common or abundant component 
of the catch. 
 

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
Bray, D.J. Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4664 (06/01/19).
Fennessy, S. (2018). Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132751A46628285.en. (06/01/19)
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Epinephelus-coeruleopunctatus.html (06/01/19).
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. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
 

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus, Whitespotted grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/epinephelus-coeruleopunctatus-bloch-1790/ (edited 26/07/22).