Orangestriped Emperor, Lethrinus obsoletus (Forsskal, 1775)

Scientific name: Lethrinus obsoletus
Alternative name/s:
Yellow Striped Emperor
  • Updated
    07/04/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
<i>Lethrinus obsoletes</i> Click to enlarge image
Orangestripe Emperor, Lethrinus obsoletus Image: Jay Cossey
© University of Guelph

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Lethrinus
    Species
    obsoletus
    Family
    Lethrinidae
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 60 cm in length. The maximum known age of a Orangestriped Emperor is 14 years.

Introduction

The Orangestriped Emperor usually has a broad yellow stripe from the pectoral fin base to the caudal fin. It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific

Identification

The Orangestriped Emperor has a light tan to olive body. A broad yellow stripe extends from the pectoral fin base to the caudal fin. Sometimes adults exhibit a mottled brown colouration or have no markings.

Habitat

Orangestriped Emperor inhabit seagrass beds, lagoons and reefs, and adjacent areas of sand and rubble. It is often seen in groups or as solitary individuals and may be seen sheltering in branching coral during the day.

It is found at depths from 3 m to 100 m.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and the north-eastern coast of Africa, throughout South-east Asia and Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to Tonga and Samoa.

In Australia it is known from off 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.

Feeding and diet

The species feeds primarily on molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
  2. 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.
  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. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.