Longfin Emperor, Lethrinus erythropterus Valenciennes, 1830

Scientific name: Lethrinus erythropterus
Alternative name/s:
Tail-saddled Emperor
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    30/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Longfin Emperor, <i>Lethrinus erythropterus</i> Click to enlarge image
A Longfin Emperor caught at a depth around 40m to 50m, Maskelyne Islands, Vanuatu, June 2006. Thank you to K. Carpenter for identifying this fish. Image: John Fooks
© 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.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

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.