Description:

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

Posterior nostrils of adults about twice the size of anterior nostrils; maxilla reaches vertical at rear edge of eye or thereabouts; midlateral part of lower jaw with two 
rows of teeth. Interspinous membranes of dorsal fin not incised. Caudal fin truncate to slightly emarginate.

Body grey brown to dark grey brown or purplish grey (in different shades) with scattered irregular white blotches. Small dark spots on head, lower flanks and ventrally. 
Closely spaced on the head less so further down the body. 

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown.  Range: ? - 50 cm TL. Max length: 100.0 cm
 

Habitat and Ecology:

Found on rocky and coral reefs, including drop-offs and banks (depth 1-110 m). Juveniles can be found on inshore coral reefs. In general adults occur in deeper waters. 
Feeds on small fishes and crabs. Solitary but aggregate to spawn. Protogynous hermaphrodites. In Seychelles reproduction is reported to span the entire year with peak 
activity from August to October when aggregations form (Robinson et al. 2007).
 

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the handline fishery and smaller specimens are occasionally caught in the trap fishery.  
 

Notes:

Shares the Creole name "Vyey plat" with E. flavocaeruleus and E. undulosus.  
 

References:

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
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.ca/summary/7354 (05/03/19).
Giacomello, E. & Amorim, P. (2018). Epinephelus multinotatus. The IUCN Red List 2018: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T132740A46628015.en. (05/03/19).
Grandcourt, E.M. (2005). Demographic characteristics of selected epinepheline groupers (Family: Serranidae; Subfamily: Epinephelinae) from Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles. Atoll 
Research Bulletin 539: 201-216.
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Robinson, J. et al. (2007). Investigation of the importance of reef fish spawning aggregations for the sustainable management of artisanal fisheries resources in Seychelles. 
Final project report to the Marine Science for Management (MASMA) Programme/Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).

Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Epinephelus multinotatus, White-blotched grouper. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/epinephelus-multinotatus-peters-1876/ (edited 04/08/22).