Lethrinus reticulatus

Osteichthyes Lethrinidae Genus Lethrinus Lethrinus reticulatus

Red snout emperor LHR

21.7 cm SL. Source: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History. License: Attribution Non-Commercia

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Head brown or olive with indistinct reddish band on snout; body olive-grey to tan, scattered with irregular black blotches; pectoral-fin base, opercle upper edge and sometimes preopercle posterior edge, red; lips red; fins pale orange.

Size:

Up to 40 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo-West Pacific, in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Over soft bottoms near coral reefs, from 5 to 35 m depth.

Biology:

Feeds on benthic dwelling invertebrates and samll fish.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught with handline and trawl.

Similar species:

Lethrinus xanthochilus
Yellowtip emperor

Lethrinus xanthochilus differs in having membrane between innermost rays of pelvic fins densely populated with melanophores (vs. innermost rays without melanophores, the rest of pelvic fins with melanophores).

to Lethrinus xanthochilus

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM