185: LETHRINIDAE (EMPERORS)
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustrations. Five scales
between LL and 6th D spine. Hind teeth rounded but never molariform.
C lobes rounded.
Body sometimes covered irregularly with small bright
orange spots with cluster round eye and nostrils; fins
generally rose red, often with bright orange reticulated
spots. Attains 70 cm. In deepish water down to 120 m. IndoWest Pacific; an important food-fish from Kenya to the
Mozambique channel.
185.10 Lethrinus lent jan
(Lacepede, 1802)
PLATE 64
Redspot emperor
Rooikol-keiser
Bodianus lent jan Lacepede, 1802: 281, 293 (Java). Lethrinus lent jan:
Smith, 1959: 291*; Sato, 1978: 42*; Smith, 1981: 180; Sato, 1984: Leth4*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Preserved: uniform, with traces of white spots over much
of body. Attains 40 cm. A common fish in the tropical IndoWest Pacific, south to Sodwana Bay.
185.11 Lethrinus mahsena
(ForsskAI, 1775)
PLATE 64
Sky emperor
Hemel-keiser
Sciaena mahsena Forsskal, 1775: xii, 52 (Red Sea). Lethrinus caeruleus:
Smith, 1959: 288*; Smith, 1981: 180. Lethrinus mahsena: Sato, 1978: 25*;
1984: Leth 12*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Five scales between
LL and 6th D spine.
Easily recognised when fresh by red blotch on forehead
and red or orange streak back and down over corner of
mouth. Attains 38 cm. Indo-West Pacific, south to Sodwana
Bay. Flesh excellent.
185.12 Lethrinus mahsenoides
Valenciennes, 1830
PLATE 64
Snubnose emperor
Stompneus-keiser
Lethrinus mahsenoides Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 286 (Red
Sea); Sato, 1978: 38*; 1984: Leth 13*. Lethrinus borbonicus: Smith,
SFSA No. 700*; 1959: 290*; Sanches, 1963: 94 *.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Preserved: uniform, head except opercle somewhat
darker. Attains about 20 cm. Red Sea and Indo-West
Pacific to Sodwana Bay. Sometimes with rank nauseating
"chemical" flavour.
598
185.13 Lethrinus nebulosus
(ForsskAI, 1775)
PLATE 65
Blue emperor
Blou keiser
Sciaena nebulosa Forsskal, 1775: xii, 52 (Red Sea). Lethrinus scoparius
Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908: 168 (Natal). Lethrinus genivittatus: Smith,
SFSA No. 699. Lethrinus nebulosus: Smith, SFSA No. 702*; 1959: 290*;
Sanches, 1963: 95*; Sato, 1978; 30*; van der Elst, 1981: 200*; Sato, 1984:
Leth 15*. Lethrinus harak (non Forsskal): Sousa & Dias, 1981: 60*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Preserved: almost uniform, sometimes with lines on
cheek and along body; attains more than 75 cm. Indo-West
Pacific, plentiful in Natal and reaches Algoa Bay. Caught
by traps among coral reefs but often on lines above rocky
reefs down to 60 m.
185.14 Lethrinus ramak
(ForsskAI, 1775)
PLATE 65
Orange-striped emperor
Oranjestreep-keiser
Sciaena obsoleta Forsskal, 1775: xii, 52 (Arabic common name ramak;
Red Sea). Lethrinus obsoletus: Smith, 1961: 568, No. 700a; 1959: 289*.
Lethrinus ramak: Sato, 1978: 35*; 1984: Leth 16*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Although Forsskal
used "obsoleta" as the scientific name, "ramak" (Forsskal's common
name) has come to be used for this species. Six scales from LL to 6th D
spine.
Easily recognised fresh by orange stripes along body
which fade slowly after death. Preserved: uniform, but
shape always characteristic. Attains 60 cm. Indo-West
Pacific to Natal; one of the commonest lethrinids along the
east coast of Africa; prefers shallow, weedy areas.
185.15 Lethrinus rubrioperculatus
Sato, 1978
PLATE 66
Spotcheek emperor
Kolwang-keiser
Lethrinus rubrioperculatus Sato, 1978: 58, Fig. 34, PI. 12A (Okinawa
Id.); 1984: Leth 17*. Lethrinella variegatus (non Valenciennes): Smith,
1959: 291* (in part).
See genus Lethrinus and key to species. Five scales from LL to 6th D
spine; hind teeth conical, never molariform. C lunate, upper lobe usually
longer than lower.
185.15 Lethrinus rubrioperculatus: 24 em (after Sato, 1984).
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustrations. Five scales
between LL and 6th D spine. Hind teeth rounded but never molariform.
C lobes rounded.
Body sometimes covered irregularly with small bright
orange spots with cluster round eye and nostrils; fins
generally rose red, often with bright orange reticulated
spots. Attains 70 cm. In deepish water down to 120 m. IndoWest Pacific; an important food-fish from Kenya to the
Mozambique channel.
185.10 Lethrinus lent jan
(Lacepede, 1802)
PLATE 64
Redspot emperor
Rooikol-keiser
Bodianus lent jan Lacepede, 1802: 281, 293 (Java). Lethrinus lent jan:
Smith, 1959: 291*; Sato, 1978: 42*; Smith, 1981: 180; Sato, 1984: Leth4*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Preserved: uniform, with traces of white spots over much
of body. Attains 40 cm. A common fish in the tropical IndoWest Pacific, south to Sodwana Bay.
185.11 Lethrinus mahsena
(ForsskAI, 1775)
PLATE 64
Sky emperor
Hemel-keiser
Sciaena mahsena Forsskal, 1775: xii, 52 (Red Sea). Lethrinus caeruleus:
Smith, 1959: 288*; Smith, 1981: 180. Lethrinus mahsena: Sato, 1978: 25*;
1984: Leth 12*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Five scales between
LL and 6th D spine.
Easily recognised when fresh by red blotch on forehead
and red or orange streak back and down over corner of
mouth. Attains 38 cm. Indo-West Pacific, south to Sodwana
Bay. Flesh excellent.
185.12 Lethrinus mahsenoides
Valenciennes, 1830
PLATE 64
Snubnose emperor
Stompneus-keiser
Lethrinus mahsenoides Valenciennes, in Cuv. & Val., 1830: 286 (Red
Sea); Sato, 1978: 38*; 1984: Leth 13*. Lethrinus borbonicus: Smith,
SFSA No. 700*; 1959: 290*; Sanches, 1963: 94 *.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Preserved: uniform, head except opercle somewhat
darker. Attains about 20 cm. Red Sea and Indo-West
Pacific to Sodwana Bay. Sometimes with rank nauseating
"chemical" flavour.
598
185.13 Lethrinus nebulosus
(ForsskAI, 1775)
PLATE 65
Blue emperor
Blou keiser
Sciaena nebulosa Forsskal, 1775: xii, 52 (Red Sea). Lethrinus scoparius
Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908: 168 (Natal). Lethrinus genivittatus: Smith,
SFSA No. 699. Lethrinus nebulosus: Smith, SFSA No. 702*; 1959: 290*;
Sanches, 1963: 95*; Sato, 1978; 30*; van der Elst, 1981: 200*; Sato, 1984:
Leth 15*. Lethrinus harak (non Forsskal): Sousa & Dias, 1981: 60*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Preserved: almost uniform, sometimes with lines on
cheek and along body; attains more than 75 cm. Indo-West
Pacific, plentiful in Natal and reaches Algoa Bay. Caught
by traps among coral reefs but often on lines above rocky
reefs down to 60 m.
185.14 Lethrinus ramak
(ForsskAI, 1775)
PLATE 65
Orange-striped emperor
Oranjestreep-keiser
Sciaena obsoleta Forsskal, 1775: xii, 52 (Arabic common name ramak;
Red Sea). Lethrinus obsoletus: Smith, 1961: 568, No. 700a; 1959: 289*.
Lethrinus ramak: Sato, 1978: 35*; 1984: Leth 16*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Although Forsskal
used "obsoleta" as the scientific name, "ramak" (Forsskal's common
name) has come to be used for this species. Six scales from LL to 6th D
spine.
Easily recognised fresh by orange stripes along body
which fade slowly after death. Preserved: uniform, but
shape always characteristic. Attains 60 cm. Indo-West
Pacific to Natal; one of the commonest lethrinids along the
east coast of Africa; prefers shallow, weedy areas.
185.15 Lethrinus rubrioperculatus
Sato, 1978
PLATE 66
Spotcheek emperor
Kolwang-keiser
Lethrinus rubrioperculatus Sato, 1978: 58, Fig. 34, PI. 12A (Okinawa
Id.); 1984: Leth 17*. Lethrinella variegatus (non Valenciennes): Smith,
1959: 291* (in part).
See genus Lethrinus and key to species. Five scales from LL to 6th D
spine; hind teeth conical, never molariform. C lunate, upper lobe usually
longer than lower.
185.15 Lethrinus rubrioperculatus: 24 em (after Sato, 1984).