Lethrinus erythracanthus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Spariformes
Family: Lethrinidae
Genus: Lethrinus
Species:
L. erythracanthus
Binomial name
Lethrinus erythracanthus
Synonyms[2]

Lethrinus erythracanthus, the orange-spotted emperor, orangefin emperor, and yellow-spotted emperor, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the Family Lethrinidae. the emperors and emperor breams. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taxonomy

Lethrinus erythracanthus was first formally described in 1830 by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes with its type locality given as Luganor in the Caroline Islands.[3] Some authors place the genus Lethrinus in the monotypic subfamily Lethrininae, with all the other genera of Lethrinidae placed in the Monotaxinae, however, the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise the subfamilies traditionally accepted within the family Lethrinidae as valid. The family Lethrinidae is classified by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as belonging to the order Spariformes.[4]

Etymology

Lethrinus erythracanthus has the specific name erythracanthus which combines erythros, meaning "red", with acanthus, which means "thorn", Valenciennes described this species as having beautiful red fin rays.[5]

Description

Lethrinus erythracanthus is the largest of the 27 species in the genus Lethrinus. The body is dark brown-grey in colour with scatterd golden-orange spots.[6] It has a short snout. Present on the body are small, light and dark stripes that appear indistinct. These are occasionally present on the lower sides. The head of this species is a brown or grey colour with large eyes that help it feed in the dark.[6] Smaller adults commonly have small, yellow-orange spots on each cheek.[2]

Fins

This species has a distinctive bright orange caudal fin. Younger species have a slightly forked caudal fin that is often bright orange. This fin becomes rounded when the fish matures. In adults, the dorsal and anal fins are rounded and usually bluish and orange mottling or blue spots. The pelvic and pectoral fins are orangish to white in colour. In specimens from the Indian Ocean, the fins are a straw yellow colour instead of orange.[2] The fins have strong spines.[6]

Distribution

This species is found in the waters of East Africa, east to the Tuamotus archipeligo and the Society Islands. It is recorded from the Ryukyu Islands in the north, down to the northeastern waters of Australia as well as New Caledonia.[2][7]

Habitat

Lethrinus erythracanthus is found at depths of between 15 and 120 metres. It is a reef-associated fish and is non-migratory. It lives in channels, the slopes of outer reefs and the soft bottoms that are adjacent. It is also found in deep lagoons. In the day, it may be solitary in or around caves or by ledges.[2]

Diet

This fish is carnivorous and is a bottom-feeder.[6] It is known to eat such animals as starfishes, mollusks, crinoids, echinoids, echinoderms, and crustaceans.[2]

Human uses

This fish is considered to be high-value as food and is caught by sport fishers.[6] When caught in some locations, it may be ciguatoxic and should not be consumed.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Carpenter, K.E.; Lawrence, A.; Myers, R. (2016). "Lethrinus erythracanthus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16719994A16722335. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16719994A16722335.en. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Lethrinus erythracanthus" in FishBase. October 2023 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Lethrinus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 502–506. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN 2015037522. OCLC 951899884. OL 25909650M.
  5. ↑ "Order SPARIFORMES: Families LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Yellow-spotted emperor". Daff.qld.gov.au. 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  7. ↑ "Cook Islands Biodiversity : Lethrinus erythracanthus - Orangefin Emperor". Cookislands.bishopmuseum.org. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
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