Description:

Dorsal spines: 10; Dorsal rays: 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.

Body fairly elongate. Dorsal profile concave with hump in front of eye. Posterior nostril a longitudinal opening, closer to orbit than to anterior nostril. Lateral teeth in 
jaws conical. Cheek without scales.

Body and head brownish grey, lighter ventrally. In life may have irregular dark pattern and notably a rectangular dark patch below the lateral line above the distal portion 
of the pectoral fin. This patterning may be more pronounced in younger specimens. Adults have distinctive bright red lips. The base of the pectoral fin, a patch above the 
base of the pectoral fin and the edge of the operculum are also bright red. These coloured areas are more subdued and less extensive in smaller specimens. Fins are orangish, 
dusky or mottled. The dorsal fin has a relatively broad reddish margin. 

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 76 cm TL. Commonly 50 cm TL.

Inhabits reefs and adjacent sand, rubble and weed areas (depth 5-220 m). Feeds on crustaceans and small fish. Typically solitary.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery. It is a regular but not a common component of the catch; it can on 
occasion be numerous in a catch.  

Carpenter, K.E. & Allen, G.R. (1989). FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 9 Emperor Fishes and Large-eye Breams of the World (Family Lethrinidae). An annotated and Illustrated 
Catalogue of Lethrinid Species Known to Date. UNFAO Rome. ISBN 92-5-102889-3
Collen, B. et al. (2010). Lethrinus conchyliatus. The IUCN Red List 2010: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T155118A4715433.en. (14/05/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1868 (14/05/19).
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Lethrinus conchyliatus, Redaxil emperor. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/lethrinus-conchyliatus-smith-1959/ (edited 15/07/22).