Family : Lethrinidae (Emperors or scavengers) , subfamily: Lethrininae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Orange-spotted emperor
Fish Name : Lethrinus erythracanthus
Max size : 70.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2295)
Environment : reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 18 - 120 m
Climate : tropical; 30°N - 23°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.20)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northeastern Australia. The name Lethrinus kallopterus has long been applied to this species. Lethrinus cinnabarinus Richardson also appears to be synonymous with this species.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. The largest species of Lethrinus. Deep body, blunt snout with orange spots, and bright orange rounded fins of adults (straw yellow in the Indian Ocean) are distinctive (Ref. 37816). The caudal fin is only slightly forked with tips becoming rounded in adults. Body is brown dark gray, with indistinct scattered small dark and light stripes sometimes on lower sides. The head is brown or gray, often with small orange spots on the cheeks in small adults. The Pectoral and Pelvic fins are white to orangish. The dorsal and anal fins are mottled orange and bluish. The caudal fin is often bright orange, especially in sub adults.
Biology : Occurs in deep lagoons and channels, outer reef slopes and adjacent soft bottom areas (Ref. 30573). Solitary in or near ledges or caves by day (Ref. 9710). Feeds on echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks (Ref. 171), echinoids, crinoids and starfish (Ref. 37816). May be ciguatoxic in some areas (Ref. 37816). Marketed fresh (Ref. 171)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : reports of ciguatera poisoning , Carpenter, K.E. and G.R. Allen. 1989
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Carpenter, K.E. and G.R. Allen. 1989. (Ref. 2295)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses