Description:

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

Body moderately elongate. Posterior nostril longitudinal or vertical oblong opening, closer to orbit than to anterior nostril. Eye situated close to dorsal profile. Lateral 
teeth in jaws conical. Cheek without scales.

Body yellowish grey to pale grey often with scattered irregular dark spots. Scales with darker edges. Distinctive thick yellow lips the upper usually more intense yellow. 
Head, face and operculum typically darker than body sometimes markedly so. A red spot or patch at base of pectoral fin and often a narrow reddish edge to the operculum. 
Yellowish fins. Caudal fin brown with yellowish posterior margin.  

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 70 cm FL.
 

Inhabits seagrass beds, sand and rubble areas of coral reefs, deep channels and lagoons (depth 5-150 m). Often found in shallow water. Juveniles in seagrass beds. It usually 
occurs in small groups. It feeds primarily on crustaceans, fishes and echinoderms.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery. It is a regular but not common component of the catch, though 
occasionally a lot are landed in a single catch.  

Bray, D.J. (2018). Lethrinus xanthochilus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1229 (13/05/19).
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 xanthochilus. The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16720577A16722345.en. (12/05/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Lethrinus-xanthochilus.html (12/05/19).
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 xanthochilus, Yellowlip emperor. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/lethrinus-xanthochilus-klunzinger-1870/ (edited 17/07/22).