Atlantic emperor (Lethrinus atlanticus)

Scientific name: Lethrinus atlanticus Valenciennes, 1830

The Atlantic emperor (Lethrinus atlanticus) is a marine fish of the family Lethrinidae.

Biology

Found in shallow coastal waters. Feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Marketed fresh, smoked and dried salted. Abundant during the winter months.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Lethrinus atlanticus
Family: Lethrinidae (Emperors or scavengers)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 50.0
Common length: 30.0
Depth range: 50 m (164 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range ? - 50 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Central Atlantic: Senegal to Gabon; also Cape Verde, S?o Tome-Principe Islands, and Rolas Islands. There is little doubt that only a single species of Lethrinus exists in the tropical western Atlantic.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm=2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026