Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Eupercaria, Lethrinidae (Emperors), Lethrininae
Scientific Name: Lethrinus conchyliatus
English Name: Redaxil emperor
Creole Name: Gel-de-vin
French Name: Empereur gueule de vin
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal rays: 24-25.
Greyish to greenish brown dorsally, with small pale spots. Whitish ventrally with yellow spots that can coalesce to form a reticulum particularly posteriorly. 3 large
oval white spots along the back and a small one dorsally on caudal peduncle; a broad white streak often on side of body posterior to upper end of gill opening. White
blotches and mid-lateral stripe can disappear with growth. An oblique groove before the eye; large bony scales behind gill opening. Caudal peduncle depressed, slender
and tapering. Yellow bands on dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin, yellow with white bars and stripes pattern and diffuse black margin, double emarginate, lobes longer
with growth.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 60cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Reef associated. Inhabits mud and silt sand bottoms (depth 7-350m), usually 7-100m depth on sand, sponge, and weed bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals, including crabs,
molluscs and sea urchins. Juveniles in sheltered coastal bays and estuaries.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the fish trap and hand line fisheries and is, along with Sufflamen fraenatum,
the most commonly caught triggerfish in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Abalistes stellaris is a synonym for this species.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Abalistes stellatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/759 (30/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase https://www.fishbase.de/summary/abalistes-stellatus (30/10/18)
Matsuura, K. (2015). Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. Ichthyol Res (2015)
62:72–113 DOI 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2015). Abalistes stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2015: e.T193587A56996805. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193587/56996805 (18/06/22). .
Matsuura K, Yoshino T (2004). A new triggerfish of the genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the western Pacific. Rec Aust Mus 56:189-194
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Abalistes stellatus, Starry triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/abalistes-stellatus-anonymous-1798/ (updated 18/06/22).
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.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 76 cm TL. Commonly 50 cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabits reefs and adjacent sand, rubble and weed areas (depth 5-220 m). Feeds on crustaceans and small fish. Typically solitary.
Fishery Status:
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.
Notes:
References:
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.
Citation:
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).
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