Lethrinus ornatus
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Lethrinidae (Emperor Breams)
Lethrinus
Lethrinus ornatus
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body relatively deep, its depth 2.3-2.6 times in standard length. Head length 0.8-0.9 times in body depth, 2.7-3 times in SL, dorsal profile near eye convex; snout length about 2-2.5 times in HL, measured without the lip the snout is 0.9-1.1 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile nearly straight or slightly concave, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 65° and 75°; interorbital space convex; posterior nostril a longitudinal oblong opening, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to dorsal profile, its length 3.3-4.1 times in HL; cheek height 2.2-2.8 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws rounded with points or molars; outer surface of maxilla usually smooth, sometimes with a longitudinal ridge. D X,9 with the 4th or 5th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.7-3.3 times in body depth; A III,8 with the first soft ray usually the longest, its length longer than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 1.1-1.5 times in length of entire anal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 13; pelvic-fin membranes between rays closest to body without dense melanophores; cheek without scales; 46-47 lateral-line scales; 5 ½ scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; 15-16 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; 13-15 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; usually 3-8 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base densely covered with scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of body dusky whitish, lighter below, with 5-6 orange stripes; posterior edge of opercle and preopercle bright red (the former more conspicuous); head brown or tan, sometimes a red spot on lower front edge of eye; pectoral fins orangish; pelvic and anal fins, and most of dorsal fin whitish; edge of dorsal and caudal fins reddish (Ref. 114226). Striking features: none.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Maldives (Ref. 30829) and Sri Lanka to the Ryukyu Islands, Papua New Guinea, and northeast Australia. Reported from Viet Nam but this is probably a misidentification (Ref. 2682).
Habitat Associations
Marine. reef-associated. depth range 5-30 m. Found in: coral reefs, seagrass beds.
Biology
Inhabits sandy and soft bottoms and seagrass beds in inshore bays, lagoons and areas adjacent to reefs. Usually in small groups (Ref. 48635). Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, polychaetes and small fishes. Juveniles commonly visit the tidal reef flats to feed when the water is high (Ref. 48635). Caught by trap, handline, shore seine, trawl, and handline. Minor importance in fisheries where it occurs (Ref. 68703).
Max length: 45.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: protogyny; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2015-03-09. Resilience: High (K=0.4-0.5).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial.
References
Carpenter, K.E. and 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 Fish. Synop. 125(9):118 p. Rome: FAO.
Abe, T. and D. Pathansali (1974) Lethrinidae. Emperors, scavengers. In W. Fischer and P.J.P. Whitehead (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 57) and Western Central Pacific (Fishing Area 71). Volume 2. FAO, Rome.
Myers, R.F. (1999) Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 p.
Kuiter, R.H. and T. Tonozuka (2001) Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 1-302.
Ebisawa, A. (2006) Reproductive and sexual characteristics in five Lethrinus species in waters off the Ryukyu Islands. Ichthyol. Res. 53:269-280. DOI: 10.1007/s10228-006-0345-3
Carpenter, K.E. (2001) Lethrinidae. p. 3004-3050. In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae). FAO, Rome.
Comments On Lethrinus ornatus