Species that contain: Epinephelus and howlandi [ 2 ] records

howlandi, Serranus Günther [A.] 1873:8, Pl. 9 (fig. B) [Journal des Museum Godeffroy v. 2 (no. 3); ref. 14186] Howland Island, 0°48'N, 176°38'W, central Pacific. Holotype: BMNH 1873.4.3.237. Paratypes: ?NMV 8239 (1). •Valid as Epinephelus howlandi (Günther 1873) -- (Randall et al. 1990:109 [ref. 15987], Randall & Heemstra 1991:169 [ref. 19601], Heemstra & Randall 1993:167 [ref. 21042], Francis 1993:160 [ref. 25479], Randall et al. 1997:109 [ref. 25919], Myers 1999:114 [ref. 23965], Heemstra & Randall 1999:2544 [ref. 24815], Nakabo 2000:721 [ref. 25086], Randall in Randall & Lim 2000:609 [ref. 25122], Laboute & Grandperrin 2000:183 [ref. 25191], Nakabo 2002:721 [ref. 26001], Myers & Donaldson 2003:621 [ref. 27495], Randall et al. 2004:11 [ref. 27624], Randall 2005:157 [ref. 28239], Hoese et al. 2006:1012 [ref. 28999], Motomura et al. 2010:97 [ref. 31256], Fricke et al. 2011:384 [ref. 31242], Craig et al. 2011:156 [ref. 31786], Ho et al. 2013:77 [ref. 33261], Ma & Craig 2018:455 [ref. 36100], Parenti & Randall 2020:71 [ref. 37354], Tachibana & Endo 2023:20 [ref. 40968]). Current status: Valid as Epinephelus howlandi (Günther 1873). Epinephelidae. Distribution: Western and South Pacific: China Sea and southern Japan throughout the west-central Pacific east to the Line Islands, south to Lord Howe Island. Habitat: marine.

spilotus, Epinephelus Schultz [L. P.] in Schultz et al. 1953:352, Fig. 55 [Bulletin of the United States National Museum No. 202, v. 1; ref. 3975] Lagoon reef at Rujoru Island, Eniwetok Atoll, western Pacific. Holotype: USNM 141895. Paratypes: USNM 141896 (2), 150001 (4), 152974 [ex UW] (1). •Synonym of Epinephelus howlandi (Günther 1873) -- (Randall & Heemstra 1991:169 [ref. 19601], Heemstra & Randall 1993:167 [ref. 21042], Fricke & Kulbicki 2006:328 [ref. 28867], Parenti & Randall 2020:71 [ref. 37354]). Current status: Synonym of Epinephelus howlandi (Günther 1873). Epinephelidae. Habitat: marine.