Longfin Emperor, Lethrinus erythropterus Valenciennes, 1830
Tail-saddled Emperor
Click to enlarge image
© John Fooks
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Lethrinus
- Species
- erythropterus
- Family
- Lethrinidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to about 50 cm in length.
Introduction
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.
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.
Habitat
The species occurs primarily on coral reefs and adjacent sandy areas.
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.
References
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
