Bergmans also transferred E. grandis to Epomophorus from the genus Micropteropus. These bats are grayish brown, russet, or tawny in color, with a white patch at the base of the ear in both sexes.
Males have a conspicuous pair of shoulder tufts around large glandular sacs.
Air sacs are present on the necks of males. Epauleted fruit bats have expansible, pendulous lips, often with peculiar folds. They roost in such places as large hollow trees, thick foliage, accumulated roots along stream banks, and below the thatch of open sheds. They often roost where there is considerable light, and sometimes groups of about half a dozen hang from the midribs of palm fronds in plain sight. They seem to be quite alert when roosting during the day.