Epinephelus merra

Epinephelus faveatus differs in having spots on pectoral fin spots almost subequal with those on the body (vs. distinctly smaller than spots on body) and 2 oblique bands on sides of chest (vs. no dark bands on chest).

Epinephelus hexagonatus differs in having brownish polygonal spots that merge to leave conspicuous white triangular dots between corners of polygons (vs. brownish close-set polygonal spots that do not merge) and 3 black blotches on dorsal-fin base, and 1 on caudal peduncle (vs. no black blotches on dorsal surface).

Epinephelus macrospilos differs in having pectoral fins usually dusky (vs. with distinct small black spots).

Epinephelus melanostigma differs in having larger black spots, covering entire pectoral fin (vs. pectoral fins with distinct small black spots, largely confined to fin rays (vs. a large, single black blotch at mid dorsal fin, covering the base of 3 dorsal-fin spines and extending onto body); no distinct large black blotch along dorsal fin) and 2^nd anal-fin spine shorter than caudal peduncle depth (vs. subequal to third and much longer than the depth of caudal peduncle).

Epinephelus quoyanus differs in having a dorsal fin with 16–18 soft rays (vs. 15–17) and 2 oblique bands on sides of chest (vs. no dark bands on chest).

Epinephelus spilotoceps differs in having small black spots, the size of nostrils on the snout (vs. black spots larger than nostril, on snout) and 3 black blotches along dorsal-fin base and 1 at caudal peduncle (vs. black dorsal blotches never present).