Body depth contained 2.9 to 3.4 times in standard length (for fish 13 to 62 cm standard length). Head length contained 2.3 to 2.6 times in standard length; interorbital area convex, the dorsal head profile convex; preopercle angular, with 3 to 7 distinctly enlarged serrae at angle; upper edge of operculum distinctly convex; nostrils subequal; maxilla reaches past vertical at rear edge of eye; midlateral part of lower jaw with 2 or 3 rows of teeth. Gill rakers 8 to 11 on upper limb, 15 to 18 on lower limb. Dorsal fin with XI spines and 12 to 14 rays, the third or fourth spine longest, contained 2.9 to 3.9 times in head length and not much shorter than longest rays, the interspinous membranes incised; anal fin with III spines and 8 rays; pectoral-fin rays 17 to 19; pectoral-fin length contained 1.8 to 2.2 times in head length; pelvic fins not reaching anus, their length contained 2.2 to 2.6 times in head length; caudal fin truncate in large adults, the rear margin convex in juveniles.Lateral-body scales smooth; lateral-line scales 56 to 65; lateral-scale series 91 to 106.
Colour: Juveniles lavender-grey or pale brownish, shading to whitish ventrally; 2 black-edged white longitudinal bands, the upper band from above eye to anterior dorsal-fin rays, and the lower band from below eye to lower caudal-fin rays; dorsal and caudal fins with black spots and streaks; white bands disappearing on adults, the dark edges breaking into dashes and spots; head and body of large adults uniformly grey.

Indo-West Pacific region, including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Pakistan, coast of India, Viet Nam, Hong Kong, China (Shanghai), Korea, southern Japan, Taiwan, and northwest Australia. E. latifasciatus seems to prefer continental localities, but it is not known from the east coast of Africa, islands of the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Philippines, or New Guinea.

The preferred habitat seems to be bottoms of low relief; adults are taken on coarse sand or rocky areas, while juveniles are found on silty-sand and mud bottom. Depths range from 20 to at least 230 m.

Attains 137 cm standard length (157 cm total length) and a weight of 58.6 kg.

Heemstra and Randall (In: W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds), FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes: Western Indian Ocean. Vol. 4. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. 1984) illustrated a specimen of 292 mm standard length as a “juvenile” of E. epistictus.