The longfin grouper, Epinephelus quoyanus, has white to light brown undercolor, covered in closely-set, dark brown hexagonal spots. They have slightly darker bands across the breast and two dark bands on the throat. The lower margin of the anal fin is completely and the tips of the dorsal fin spines are white. They live solitary.
Stated as Least Concern according to the IUCN Red list. Even though the species is heavily fished in Southeast Asia and this is reason for concern and close observation of population statistics, they are also widely spread across the Eastern Pacific.
Epinephelus quoyanus can be found in Eastern/Asian Pacific; from Southern Japan down to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Apparently absent from the (Western) Indian Ocean, with the exception of the Andaman islands. They prefer silty, inshore reefs and bays, in a depth range of 1-50 meters.
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Up to 40 cm.
They feed on small fish, crabs, shrimps and worms.
The longfin grouper is very similar in appearance to E. macrospilos, E. merra and E. hexagonatus. This may very possibly have lead to discussion on reports of sightings and habitat statistics. It has been reported to cause ciguatera poisoning.