Longtooth Grouper

Epinephelus bruneus has an elongate body which has a standard length which is 3.0 to 3.6 times its depth. The dorsal profile of the head between the eyes is convex. The preopercle has an angle where the serrations are notably enlarged. There is a small spine on the upper edge of the gill cover and this upper edge is convex. The dorsal fin contains 11 spines and 13-15 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. It has 64-72 scales in its lateral line. The larger adults are dark greyish brown in colour, and may be marked with faint blotches on their nbacks, although these may be absent. They also have a covering of small grey spots on their bodies which form short longitudinal lines and creating a mottled pattern. The lower margin of the anal fin and the lower corner of caudal fin have white edges.

Epinephelus bruneus is found in the Western Pacific Ocean where it occurs from southern Japan and Taiwan and along the coast of Asia from southern Korea to Hainan and Hong Kong in southern China. However, see taxonomy below.