Thumbprint emperorLethrinus harak

Category
  • Fringing Reef
Tags
  • Emperors
  • Lagoon coral patches
  • Fauna

Description

The Lethrinus harak, of the order of Perciformes and family of Lethrinidae (Emperors or scavengers) is commonly known as the Thumbprint Emperor, Black-blotch Emperor, Blackspot Emperor. Body colour is olive to greyish above grading into silver below. There is an elliptical black blotch edged into a yellow patch on both sides. Fins are white to pinkish. Dorsal and anal fins are striped or mottled. The caudal fin is orange to red[1]. It has total of 10 dorsal spines, 10 dorsal soft rays, 9 anal spines and 8 anal soft rays.

 

[1] ‘Lethrinus Harak’.

Habitat and ecology

This species is present across the Indo-Pacific region. It is found in shallow lagoons, coral rubble, mangroves, channels and seagrass inshore and adjacent to coral reefs. Seagrass and mangroves are used as nursery grounds. Diet consists of polychaetes, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms and small fishes.

 

Conservation and management

According to the IUCN Red list, this species is categorized as being of ‘Least Concern’. It is collected for consumption which is a potential threat. There are localised declines and monitoring of this species is recommended. No conservation measures are in place for this species. It is present in many MPAs though[1].

 


[1] ‘Lethrinus Harak’.

Did you know?

This species can reach a maximum recorded length of 50cm.

References

‘Epibulus Insidiator Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Epibulus-insidiator.html.

‘Epinephelus Merra Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Epinephelus-merra.html.

‘Gnathodentex Aureolineatus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Gnathodentex-aureolineatus.html.

‘Gomphosus Caeruleus | DORIS’. Accessed 29 December 2018. http://doris.ffessm.fr/Especes/Gomphosus-caeruleus-Labre-oiseau-indien-3413.

‘Gomphosus Caeruleus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Gomphosus-caeruleus.html.

‘Halichoeres Hortulanus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Halichoeres-hortulanus.html.

‘Halichoeres Marginatus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Halichoeres-marginatus.html.

‘Halichoeres Scapularis Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Halichoeres-scapularis.html.

‘Hemigymnus Fasciatus’. Accessed 29 December 2018. http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/244.

‘Hemigymnus Fasciatus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Hemigymnus-fasciatus.html.

‘Heniochus Monoceros’. Accessed 29 December 2018. http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2413.

‘Heniochus Monoceros Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Heniochus-monoceros.html.

IUCN. ‘Epinephelus Merra: Liu, M. & Yeeting, B.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: E.T132788A3451752’. International Union for Conservation of Nature, 1 January 2008. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T132788A3451752.en.

———. ‘Halichoeres Marginatus: Choat, J.H.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: E.T187382A8519431’. International Union for Conservation of Nature, 25 March 2009. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187382A8519431.en.

‘Lethrinus Harak’. Accessed 29 December 2018. http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2751.

‘Lutjanus Fulvus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Lutjanus-fulvus.html.

‘The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species’. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed 29 December 2018. https://www.iucnredlist.org/en.