Animal Species:Longfin Emperor, Lethrinus erythropterus Valenciennes, 1830

The Longfin Emperor is brown to reddish, often lighter ventrally. The fins are usually bright red. It occurs in the Indo-west and Central Pacific.

Longfin Emperor caught at Maskelyne Islands, Vanuatu

Longfin Emperor caught at Maskelyne Islands, Vanuatu
John Fooks © John Fooks

Alternative Name/s

Tail-saddled Emperor

Identification

The Longfin Emperor is brown to reddish, often lighter ventrally. The fins are usually bright red. Two pale bars are sometimes present on the caudal peduncle. The lips and base of the pectoral fins are red. The fish in the image to the right is unusually spotted.

Size range

The species grows to about 50 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in the Indo-west and Central Pacific. In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Lethrinus erythropterus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Longfin Emperor specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species occurs primarily on coral reefs and adjacent sandy areas.

Classification

Species:
erythropterus
Genus:
Lethrinus
Family:
Lethrinidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Carpenter, K.E. & G.R. Allen, 1989. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 9. Emperor fishes and large-eye breams of the world (family Lethrinidae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lethrinid species known to date. FAO Species Synopsis. No. 125(9): Pp. 118.
  2. Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & P.J. Kailola. 1984. Trawled Fishes of southern Indonesia and northwestern Australia. Jakarta: Directorate General of Fisheries ( Indonesia), German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Pp. 406. (as L. hypselopterus).
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Longfin Emperor, Lethrinus erythropterus, Lethrinidae, brown, red, Tail-saddled Emperor, 30 cm - 1 m, Great Barrier Reef, coral reef, marine,