Cloudy Grouper

Epinephelus erythrurus has a body which has a standard length which is around 2.8 to 3.2 times its depth. The dorsal profile of the head is nearly straight while the preopercle is finely serrated and rounded with the lower serrations being slightly enlarged. The upper edge of the gill cover is straight, except for a bend at its upper end. The dorsal fin has 11 spines and 15-17 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The caudal fin is markedly rounded. There are 53-62 scales in the lateral line. The overall colour of its body is olive to reddish brown and they are normally with irregular pale spots and blotches that merge to create an irregular dark web from the basic colour. There are three dark streaks across the gill cover, the widest and darkest runs from eye to lower edge of the gill cover, the next runs from lower edge of eye to subopercle, and the third is the most indistinct and runs from the dark streak on the upper jaw to the lower edge of preopercle. The dorsal, anal, caudal and pelvic fins are mottled while the pectoral fins are plain. Some of the larger individuals are almost plain brown in colour brown with indistinct blotches just visible. This species attains a total length of 45 centimetres (18 in).

Epinephelus erythrurus is found in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean. It occurs from Pakistan and India to the South China Sea, its range includes the Lakshadweep Islands, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands, as well as Indonesia.