Epinephelus kupangensis

This species is distinguished from its Indo-Pacific congeners by having the following characters: lateral line scales 46-49 (vs. at least 51 in all species except E. areolatus, E.bilobatus, E. bleekeri, E. bontoides, E. chlorostigma, E. faveatus, E. howlandi, E. longispinis, E. macrospilos, E. maculatus, E. merra, E. miliaris, E. polyphekadion, E. quoyanus, E. timorensis, E. trimaculatus), round caudal fin (vs. emarginate to truncate caudal fin in E. areolatus, E. bleekeri, E. chlorostigma, E. geoffroyi, E. timorensis), no distinct spots over most of head and body (vs. numerous distinct spots - not dots - over most of head and body in E. bilobatus, E. bontoides, E. faveatus, E. howlandi, E. longispinis, E. macrospilos, E. maculatus, E. merra, E. miliaris, E. polyphekadion, E. quoyanus, E. trimaculatus) (Ref. 111063).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

This fish is part of a large, deep-water drop line fishery, which focuses its efforts on banks and promontories of shelf habitat in depths of up to 350 m (Ref. 111063).