- EnglishName: Brown-spottedgrouper
- Local Name : Kulhandhuru faana
- Size : Common to 50 cm; max. 75 cm
- Family: Order : Specimen
- Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 16-18 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays. Anal fin of adults angular or pointed. Pectoral fin with 17-19 rays. Body depth 2.8-3.3 in standard length. 15-18 gill rakers on lower limb. Caudal fin truncate or slightly concave.
Colour: Covered with small brown spots. The largest about half pupil diameter. Posterior margin of caudal fin usually white. Eye orange. - Habitat and Biology: Occurs in depths of 4-280 m, in a wide range of habitats, including seagrass beds and mud bottoms, but most common on outer reef slopes. Feeds on small fishes, and crustaceans.
- Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.
- Remarks: Epinephelus cholorostigma is most likely to be confused with E. areolatus. However, the latter species can be distinguished by its larger spots (largest size of the pupil) and also the difference in their sizes.