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Emperor

Lethrinus miniatus

Family: Lethrinidae

LC · Least Concern

The Emperor (Lethrinus miniatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Lethrinidae that grows up to 90 cm.

Length

90 cm

Water

Brackish

Depth

5.0–30.0 m

Diet

Carnivore

Behaviour

Small groups

Body shape

Torpedo-shaped

Substrate

Stone or rock

Danger

Venomous / poisonous

Range

Western Pacific; coral reefs and adjacent sand flats.

Edibility

Commonly eaten

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Description

The trumpet emperor is an emperor of the family Lethrinidae from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 90 cm and has a streamlined, pale-grey body with red-orange tints around the eyes, mouth and fin bases. Adults live on coral reefs by day, occasionally foraging on sand and rubble flats between coral heads; at night they disperse to hunt. As a predator it feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins and fishes. The trumpet emperor is an important sport and food fish. Large reef specimens can locally contain ciguatera.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Emperor?

The Emperor has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Red-orange tints around the eyes and mouth; large reef specimens can contain ciguatera.

Where does the Emperor live?

The Emperor lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific; coral reefs and adjacent sand flats.

How big does the Emperor get?

The Emperor grows to a maximum of about 90 cm. On average the species is around 40 cm.

Is the Emperor dangerous to humans?

The Emperor is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed. The flesh can contain ciguatera in tropical areas; do not eat large reef specimens from risk areas. In case of poisoning (tingling, gastrointestinal symptoms, temperature-reversal sensation), seek medical care.

Is the Emperor edible?

Yes, the Emperor is commonly eaten.

More photos

Emperor (Lethrinus miniatus) — Lethrinidae — 3 — iNaturalist ((c) Adam Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Emperor (Lethrinus miniatus) — Lethrinidae — 4 — Adam Smith (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist

Emperor (Lethrinus miniatus) — Lethrinidae — 5 — iNaturalist ((c) mscaus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name

Emperor verified

Scientific name

Lethrinus miniatus

Family

Lethrinidae

Other names

Green snapper; Island snapper; Lipper; Longface emperor; Trumpet emperor; Sweetlip emperor; Redthroat emperor; Trumpeter; Long-nose emperor; Longnosed emperor; Long-nosed emperor; Longnosed snapper verified

Appearance

Size class

Extra large verified

Max length (cm)

90.0 verified

Average length (cm)

40.0 verified

Body shape

Torpedo-shaped sourced

Dominant colour

Silver / grey inferred

Pattern

Plain inferred

Tail shape

Forked inferred

Mouth position

Terminal inferred

Lips

Thick / fleshy inferred

Barbels

No sourced

Dorsal fins

One continuous inferred

Dorsal spines

Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type

Brackish sourced

Substrate

Stone or rock sourced

Min depth (m)

5.0 verified

Max depth (m)

30.0 verified

Natural range

Western Pacific; coral reefs and adjacent sand flats. inferred

Origin

Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet

Carnivore sourced

Diet (detail)

Crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins and fishes sourced

Social behaviour

Small groups inferred

Territorial

No inferred

Reproduction

Separate sexes sourced

Sexual dimorphism

No inferred

levensduur_max_jaar

22.0 verified

Seasonality

Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

Special features

Red-orange tints around the eyes and mouth; large reef specimens can contain ciguatera. sourced

For anglers

Edibility

Commonly eaten sourced

Fishing method

Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred

Regulations source

FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans

Venomous / poisonous sourced

First aid

The flesh can contain ciguatera in tropical areas; do not eat large reef specimens from risk areas. In case of poisoning (tingling, gastrointestinal symptoms, temperature-reversal sensation), seek medical care. sourced

Status & sources

Sources

FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Lethrinus

Ambon emperor

Lethrinus amboinensis

Lethrinidae

Pacific yellowtail emperor

Lethrinus haematopterus

Lethrinidae

Yellowlip emperor

Lethrinus xanthochilus

Emperor

Description

Frequently asked questions

More photos

Want the complete picture on the Emperor?

All data

Identification

Appearance

Habitat & distribution

Behaviour & biology

For anglers

Safety

Status & sources

Same genus Lethrinus

More from the family Lethrinidae

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