Lethrinus harak

Lethrinus harak, common names the thumbprint emperor and blackspot emperor,[3] is a species of emperor fish.[2]

Lethrinus harak
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Spariformes
Family: Lethrinidae
Genus: Lethrinus
Species:
L. harak
Binomial name
Lethrinus harak
(Forsskål, 1775)[2]
Synonyms

Lethrinus azureus Valenciennes, 1830
Lethrinus bleekeri Klunzinger, 1884
Lethrinus bonhamensis Günther, 1874
Lethrinus johnii Castelnau, 1873
Lethrinus papuensis Alleyne & MacLeay, 1877
Lethrinus rhodopterus Bleeker, 1852
Sciaena harak Forsskål, 1775

Description

This species is olive-green in colour, becoming paler toward the belly. It can grow to a maximum length of 50 cm but is commonly found at 30 cm. There is a characteristic large blotch on the sides. It is dark and elliptical, located directly under the lateral line. This blotch often has a yellow edge.[4]

There are occasionally pale blue dots around each nostril and bordering the lower rim of the eyes. The caudal fin is reddish or orange in colour. The pelvic, dorsal, and pectoral fins are all pinkish to white.[4]

The mouth is somewhat protractile with thick lips.[4]

Distribution

Lethrinus harak has been recorded from East Africa to Samoa, as far north as the southern waters of Japan, down to the northeastern parts of Australia in the south. It is also known to live in the Red Sea.[4]

Habitat

This fish lives in depths of up to 20 metres in areas with sandy bottoms, coral rubble, and in mangroves, inshore seagrass areas, in lagoons and channels. It is non-migratory and forms small schools or may be solitary.[4]

Diet

This species eats crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, echinoderms and small fishes.[4]

References
  1. Carpenter, K.E.; Lawrence, A.; Myers, R. (2016). "Lethrinus harak". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16720022A16722390. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16720022A16722390.en.
  2. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775)". Marinespecies.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  3. "Lethrinus harak (Forsskål 1775) - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Archived from the original on 2021-07-03. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
  4. "Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775) Thumbprint emperor". FishBase. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
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