Scientific Name
Lethrinus olivaceus

Common Name
Longface emperor

Biology
Largest and the longest-snouted lethrinid (Ref. 37816). Found in sandy coastal areas, lagoons, and reef slopes (Ref. 30573). Juveniles are found in shallow sandy areas. Often occurs in large schools. Adults deep along coastal slopes and drop-offs, usually solitary (Ref. 48635). Feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. In Palau, it spawns throughout the year on the first few days of the lunar month along the edges of reefs. Large individuals often ciguatoxic in New Caledonia and possibly elsewhere in Oceania (Ref. 9775). Ref. 48635 reports maximum depth of occurrence.

Classification

Classified By

Valenciennes, 1830

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Emperors or scavengers (Lethrinidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands.

Range

28°N - 21°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

185 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 185 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

3.82 s.e. 0.62 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

100.0 cm

Common Length

70.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.06-0.25; tm=4.1-6; tmax=15)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 2295)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated