A heavy-bodied grouper that sits still and is often taken for part of the reef.
To about 120 cm, pale grey-brown blotched with irregular dark brown patches and covered in small dark spots, with a distinctly notched profile above the eye and a black saddle on the caudal peduncle. The similar Epinephelus polyphekadion is smaller, rounder in profile and more finely spotted; the two are regularly confused and both are called flowery cod.
It rests on the bottom or under overhangs and moves little during the day, taking fish and crustaceans in short ambushes. It forms spawning aggregations at predictable times and places, which is why it has been depleted across much of its range; it is listed as vulnerable. Large individuals hold station well for photography as long as the approach is from the front-side rather than overhead. Recorded from about 4 to 60 m.
Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.
