Home · Serranidae · White-edged lyretail
White-edged lyretail (Variola albimarginata) — Serranidae

White-edged lyretail

Variola albimarginata
Family: Serranidae

The White-edged lyretail (Variola albimarginata) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 65 cm.

Length
65 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
4.0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The white-edged lyretail is a grouper (Epinephelidae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 65 cm and has an elongate, red-brown body dotted with small pink to violet spots and a striking lyre-shaped tail with a narrow white margin. As a predator it shelters by day near coral and hunts smaller fish and crustaceans. In some areas it may carry ciguatera; on contact the fish is harmless.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the White-edged lyretail?

The White-edged lyretail has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the White-edged lyretail live?

The White-edged lyretail lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the White-edged lyretail get?

The White-edged lyretail grows to a maximum of about 65 cm.

Is the White-edged lyretail dangerous to humans?

No, the White-edged lyretail is harmless to humans.

Is the White-edged lyretail edible?

The White-edged lyretail is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witrand-lierstaartbaars sourced
English name
White-edged lyretail sourced
Scientific name
Variola albimarginata
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Lunar-tailed grouper; Lyre-tail cod; Lyretail grouper; Lyretail trout verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
65.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
4.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Variola

More from the family Serranidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →