Epinephelus spilotoceps Schultz 1953

Preopercle rounded, with a shallow notch; the serrae are enlarged but covered with skin; upper edge of the operculum almost straight. The head and body mostly covered with close-set dark brown, olive, or reddish brown spots. Those on the dorsolateral parts of the head, body, and on median fins polygonal and close-set, with the interspaces forming a white reticulum. Those on the ventral portions are more rounded, more separated and often more reddish. Three dark blotches are often visible at the base of the dorsal fin and one forming a saddle blotch on the caudal peduncle. These blotches differentiates it from E. merra and E. quoyanus (Ref. 5222). Small conspicuous dark spots on snout and sometimes between or below the eyes (Ref. 37816).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Found inshore (Ref. 75154).

Occurs in lagoon patch reefs, the upper slopes of channels, and reef margins (Ref. 1602). Carnivorous (Ref. 81697). Nothing has been published on its biology. Solitary (Ref 90102).

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

分布於印度-太平洋之暖水域，西起非洲東岸，東至萊恩群島，北至日本南部，南至澳洲。台灣目前發現於南沙群島海域。

具經濟性之食用魚。一般漁法以延繩網、魚槍、陷阱法及一支釣等捕獲。清蒸食用佳。

體長橢圓形，側扁而粗壯，標準體長為體高之3.1-3.6倍。頭背部斜直；眶間區微凹。眼小，短於吻長。口大；上下頜前端具小犬齒或無，兩側齒細尖，下頜約2-4列。鰓耙數6-9+16-18。前鰓蓋骨後緣微具鋸齒，下緣光滑。鰓蓋骨後緣具3扁棘。體被細小櫛鱗；側線鱗孔數59-69；縱列鱗數86-100。背鰭鰭棘部與軟條部相連，無缺刻，具硬棘XI，軟條14-16；臀鰭硬棘III枚，軟條8；腹鰭腹位，末端延伸不及肛門開口；胸鰭圓形，中央之鰭條長於上下方之鰭條，且長於腹鰭，但短於後眼眶長；尾鰭圓形。頭部及體側淡色，滿佈小於瞳孔之六角形暗斑，斑間隔極狹而形成白線條。體背沿背鰭基底至基底有5個黑斑，前四個延伸至背鰭；眼後無黃褐色斑點。各鰭均具暗色斑點及白色線條。

主要棲息於沿岸淺岩礁緣、水道或潟湖內的珊瑚礁區。生態習性尚不甚清楚。

Occurs in lagoon patch reefs, the upper slopes of channels, and reef margins (Ref. 1602). Nothing has been published on its biology.