Redthroat Emperor, Lethrinus miniatus (Forster, 1801)

Scientific name: Lethrinus miniatus
Alternative name/s:
sweetlip emperor, lipper, redthroat, tricky snapper, trumpeter
Redthroat Emperor, Lethrinus miniatus Click to enlarge image
A Redthroat Emperor at a depth of 22 m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, March 2002. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Lethrinus
    Species
    miniatus
    Family
    Lethrinidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 90 cm in length.

Introduction

The Redthroat Emperor has a red first dorsal fin. It occurs in tropical and some temperate waters of the western Pacific Ocean.

Identification

The Redthroat Emperor is greyish with black scale centres. The first dorsal fin is red. The pectoral fin base and the area around the eye are red-orange. Dark bars are sometimes present on the sides of the body.

Habitat

It is found on coral reefs and some temperate waters.

Distribution

It occurs in the Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia and from Torres Strait, Queensland south to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  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. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.