Animal Species:Redthroat Emperor, Lethrinus miniatus (Forster, 1801)

Alternative Name/s

sweetlip emperor, lipper, redthroat, tricky snapper, trumpeter

Identification

The Redthroat Emperor is greyish with black scale centres. The first dorsal fin is red. The pectoral fin base and the area around the eye are red-orange. Dark bars are sometimes present on the sides of the body.

Size range

The species grows to 90 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in the Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia and from Torres Strait, Queensland south to the central coast of New South Wales.

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

Habitat

It is found on coral reefs and some temperate waters.

Classification

Species:

miniatus

Genus:

Lethrinus

Family:

Lethrinidae

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
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.
4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 14 February 2013

Tags grey, black scale centres, 30 cm - 1 m, coast of Western Australia, Torres Strait, Lethrinus miniatus, Lethrinidae, Sweetlip Emporer, Redthroat Emperor, marine, red, white, brown,