Body greyish green to purple, paler below .. Head often
darker; a conspicuous bright red spo~ on m~rgm of ope~cle
above angle; fins red to orange with bnghter. margms,
sometimes mottled with brighter red (Sato). Attams 50 cm.
Indo-West Pacific south to Natal.
185.16 Lethrinus sanguineus
Smith,1955
PLATES 65 & 66
Cutthroat emperor
Bloednek-keiser
Lethrinus sanguineus Smith, 1955: 12, PI. 3, Fig. 14 (Mozambique);
1959:289*; 1961: 568,No.703a*j Sato, 1978: 19*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Easily recognised fresh by the red or "bleeding" area on
body behind gill opening and the dark horizontal blotch
between the LL and rear D spines. Juveniles with less steep
snout and are less vividly coloured. Preserved: dark, with
darker areas about gill cover and spots on body. Attains at
least 50 cm. Western Indian Ocean, south to Sodwana Bay;
usually in deep water about reefs.
185.17 Lethrinus variegatus
Ehrenberg, 1830
PLATE 65
Variegated emperor
Bont keiser
Lethrinus variegatus Ehrenberg, in Cuv. & VaL, 1830: 287 (Suez);
Smith, SFSANo. 703j 1961: 568, No. 703j Sato,1978: 49*; 1984: Leth 19*.
Lethrinus miniatus (non Forster): van der Eist, 1981: 199*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Profile of head of
30 cm specimen rounded, being straight in L. miniatus of similar size. Five
scales from LL to 6th D spine.
Variably mottled, especially large specimens from deep
water. Preserved: adults uniform, juveniles variably mottled or reticulated. Attains 60 cm, Indo-West Pacific, south
to Natal, juveniles sometimes abundant in shallow weedy
areas, adults more solitary down to 150 m. Flesh, especially
of large fishes, esteemed.
185.18 Lethrinus xanthochilus
Klunzinger, 1870
PLATE 65
Yellowlip emperor
Geellip-keiser
Lethrinus xanthochilus Klunzinger,1870: 753 and 1884: 39, PI. 6, Fig. 3
(Red Sea); Sato, 1978: 52*; 1984: Leth 20*. Lethrinus xanthocheilus:
Smith, 1959: 292*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Five scales from
LL to 6th D spine. Hind teeth conical, never rounded or molariform.
Small black spots often present especially on cheeks.
Attains 80 cm. Indo-Pacific coral reefs down to about 22°S
along Mozambique coast.
185: LETHRINIDAE (EMPERORS)
Genus Monotaxis Bennett, 1830
Lateral surface of maxilla with longitudinal serrate ridge;
5-6 rows of scales on preopercle and opercle. Monotypic.
185.19 Monotaxis grandoculis
(Forsskal, 1775)
PLATES 65 & 66
Bigeye barenose
Grootoog-kaalneus
Sciaena grandoculis Forsskill, 1775: xii, 53 (Djedda, Red Sea).
Monotoxis grandoculis: Smith, SFSA No. 650*.
D X,lO; A III,9; P 14; GR 5+(4-6); LL 45-47; 6 canines in upper jaw,
4-6 in lower, with 6-7 molars on each side of jaws; head heavy, snout blunt,
becoming more so with age.
Adults bluish grey above, paler below with centres of
scales silvery and a few brownish scales generally present on
sides; juveniles lose bars on preservation. Attains at least
60 cm. Indo-Pacific from Hawaii to Natal around coral reefs
down to 60 m; an important food-fish in the tropics, quite
abundant in some areas, but progressively rarer in our
region.
Genus Wattsia Chan & Chivers, 1974
Maxilla with longitudinal serrated ridge; teeth at side of
jaws conical, lower canines flare outwards; no molars.
Monotypic.
185.20 Wattsia mossambica
(Smith, 1957)
Mozambique large-eye
Mosambiekse grootoogbream
bras
Gnathodentex mossambicus Smith, 1957: 122, (Pinda, Mozambique).
Wattsia mossambica: Chan & Chivers, 1974: 85*; Sato, 1984: Watt 1*.
185.20 Wattsia mossambica: 42 em holotype and jaws from 53.5 em paratype
(both N. Mozambique).
599
darker; a conspicuous bright red spo~ on m~rgm of ope~cle
above angle; fins red to orange with bnghter. margms,
sometimes mottled with brighter red (Sato). Attams 50 cm.
Indo-West Pacific south to Natal.
185.16 Lethrinus sanguineus
Smith,1955
PLATES 65 & 66
Cutthroat emperor
Bloednek-keiser
Lethrinus sanguineus Smith, 1955: 12, PI. 3, Fig. 14 (Mozambique);
1959:289*; 1961: 568,No.703a*j Sato, 1978: 19*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Six scales from LL
to 6th D spine.
Easily recognised fresh by the red or "bleeding" area on
body behind gill opening and the dark horizontal blotch
between the LL and rear D spines. Juveniles with less steep
snout and are less vividly coloured. Preserved: dark, with
darker areas about gill cover and spots on body. Attains at
least 50 cm. Western Indian Ocean, south to Sodwana Bay;
usually in deep water about reefs.
185.17 Lethrinus variegatus
Ehrenberg, 1830
PLATE 65
Variegated emperor
Bont keiser
Lethrinus variegatus Ehrenberg, in Cuv. & VaL, 1830: 287 (Suez);
Smith, SFSANo. 703j 1961: 568, No. 703j Sato,1978: 49*; 1984: Leth 19*.
Lethrinus miniatus (non Forster): van der Eist, 1981: 199*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Profile of head of
30 cm specimen rounded, being straight in L. miniatus of similar size. Five
scales from LL to 6th D spine.
Variably mottled, especially large specimens from deep
water. Preserved: adults uniform, juveniles variably mottled or reticulated. Attains 60 cm, Indo-West Pacific, south
to Natal, juveniles sometimes abundant in shallow weedy
areas, adults more solitary down to 150 m. Flesh, especially
of large fishes, esteemed.
185.18 Lethrinus xanthochilus
Klunzinger, 1870
PLATE 65
Yellowlip emperor
Geellip-keiser
Lethrinus xanthochilus Klunzinger,1870: 753 and 1884: 39, PI. 6, Fig. 3
(Red Sea); Sato, 1978: 52*; 1984: Leth 20*. Lethrinus xanthocheilus:
Smith, 1959: 292*.
See genus Lethrinus, key to species and illustration. Five scales from
LL to 6th D spine. Hind teeth conical, never rounded or molariform.
Small black spots often present especially on cheeks.
Attains 80 cm. Indo-Pacific coral reefs down to about 22°S
along Mozambique coast.
185: LETHRINIDAE (EMPERORS)
Genus Monotaxis Bennett, 1830
Lateral surface of maxilla with longitudinal serrate ridge;
5-6 rows of scales on preopercle and opercle. Monotypic.
185.19 Monotaxis grandoculis
(Forsskal, 1775)
PLATES 65 & 66
Bigeye barenose
Grootoog-kaalneus
Sciaena grandoculis Forsskill, 1775: xii, 53 (Djedda, Red Sea).
Monotoxis grandoculis: Smith, SFSA No. 650*.
D X,lO; A III,9; P 14; GR 5+(4-6); LL 45-47; 6 canines in upper jaw,
4-6 in lower, with 6-7 molars on each side of jaws; head heavy, snout blunt,
becoming more so with age.
Adults bluish grey above, paler below with centres of
scales silvery and a few brownish scales generally present on
sides; juveniles lose bars on preservation. Attains at least
60 cm. Indo-Pacific from Hawaii to Natal around coral reefs
down to 60 m; an important food-fish in the tropics, quite
abundant in some areas, but progressively rarer in our
region.
Genus Wattsia Chan & Chivers, 1974
Maxilla with longitudinal serrated ridge; teeth at side of
jaws conical, lower canines flare outwards; no molars.
Monotypic.
185.20 Wattsia mossambica
(Smith, 1957)
Mozambique large-eye
Mosambiekse grootoogbream
bras
Gnathodentex mossambicus Smith, 1957: 122, (Pinda, Mozambique).
Wattsia mossambica: Chan & Chivers, 1974: 85*; Sato, 1984: Watt 1*.
185.20 Wattsia mossambica: 42 em holotype and jaws from 53.5 em paratype
(both N. Mozambique).
599