Orange-spotted emperor (Lethrinus erythracanthus)

Scientific name: Lethrinus erythracanthus Valenciennes, 1830

The Orange-spotted emperor (Lethrinus erythracanthus) is a marine fish of the family Lethrinidae.

Biology

Occurs in deep lagoons and channels, outer reef slopes and adjacent soft bottom areas. Solitary in or near ledges or caves by day. Feeds on echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoids, crinoids and starfish. May be ciguatoxic in some areas. Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Lethrinus erythracanthus
Family: Lethrinidae (Emperors or scavengers)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 70.0
Common length: 50.0
Depth range: 18–120 m (59–394 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 18 - 120 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northeastern Australia. The name Lethrinus kallopterus has long been applied to this species. Lethrinus cinnabarinus Richardson also appears to be synonymous with this species.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.20)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026