Description:

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

Body moderately deep. Snout moderately short. Posterior nostril an oblong longitudinal opening, closer to orbit than to anterior nostril. Lateral teeth in jaws rounded often 
with conical tips. Cheek without scales.  

Body pale grey to olive green dorsally becoming paler ventrally. Dorsal scales with dark edge and white centre. Posterior margin of the operculum and sometimes the base of 
the pectoral fin is red. Face pale olive green. Dorsal fin white with orange mottling and a reddish margin. Pectoral fin is white, yellow or pinkish. Pelvic and anal fins 
white to orange. Caudal fin with orange to reddish mottling.

Maturity: Lm 27.7 cm TL. Range 18 - ? cm. Max Length: 52 cm TL.

Inhabits coastal, sandy areas, coral reefs, and deep lagoons (depth 10-90 m, normally 10-50 m). Juveniles and small adults commonly in loose aggregations over seagrass beds, 
mangrove swamps and shallow sandy areas. Adults are generally solitary and inhabit deeper waters. Crustaceans and molluscs are the primary food item but echinoderms, 
polychaetes and fishes are also consumed. Juveniles prefer amphipod and crustacean larvae, while adults target crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms. Grandcourt (2002) 
recorded a maximum age of 19 years in the Seychelles. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. It has been observed forming spawning aggregations.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery where it is a regular though not abundant component of the catch.
 

Bray, D.J.  Lethrinus lentjan in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2752 (10/05/19). 
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
Carpenter, K.E. et al. (2016). Lethrinus lentjan. The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16720036A16722340.en. (10/05/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1863 (10/05/19).
Grandcourt, E.M. (2002). Demographic characteristics of a selection of exploited reef fish from the Seychelles: preliminary study. Mar. Freshwater res., 2002, 53, 123-130.
Grandcourt, E.M. et al. (2011). Demographic parameters and status assessments of Lutjanus ehrenbergii, Lethrinus lentjan, Plectorhinchus sordidus and Rhabdosargus sarba 
in the southern Arabian Gulf.  J. Appl. Ichthyol. (2011), 1-9.
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 lentjan, Pink ear emperor. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/lethrinus-lentjan-lacepede-1802/ (edited 16/07/22).