Red Emperor, Lutjanus sebae (Cuvier, 1816)
Scientific name: Lutjanus sebae
Alternative name/s:
Emperor Red Snapper, Government Bream, King Snapper, Queenfish, Red Kelp
Emperor Red Snapper, Government Bream, King Snapper, Queenfish, Red Kelp
Click to enlarge image
A Red Emperor, Lutjanus sebae, at a depth of 15m, Wolf Rock, Rainbow Beach, Queensland, July 2004.
Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Lutjanus
- Species
- sebae
- Family
- Lutjanidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to about 60 cm in length.
Identification
The Red Emperor can be recognised by its distinctive colour pattern. It is red to pinkish above and pale below. There are three broad purple to red bands, the first through the eye. The banded colouration may be less evident in large adults.
Distribution
The species occurs in tropical marine waters from the Western Indian to Western Pacific regions.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- 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.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
