Description:

Dorsal spines: 10; Dorsal rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8. 

A large species of Lethrinid with a moderately deep body. Dorsal profile near eye nearly staright or slightly convex, interorbital space convex.  Snout moderately short. 
Dorsal profile in large specimens distinctly and nearly straight in smaller individuals. Posterior nostril an oblong longitudinal opening, closer to orbit than anterior 
nostril. Lateral teeth in jaws conical; outer surface of maxilla smooth or with a longitudinal ridge. Cheek without scales. Posterior angle of operculum fully scaled.  
4 ½ scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines. Inner surface of pectoral-fin base densely scaled. 

Colour. Dark grey emperor with greyish-blue head and yellow to yellow/orange fins. Small adults often exhibit many small orange spots on cheeks. Caudal fin often bright 
orange, especially in sub-adults.  Juveniles are yellowish with a grey head and narrow whitish broken lines or stripes along the sides. 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 70.0 cm TL; common length : 50.0 cm TL. 

Inhabits deep lagoons and channels, and outer reef slopes and adjacent soft-bottom areas (depth 20-120 m).It feeds mostly on echinoderms, crustaceans and molluscs.
It is solitary in reefs, in or near ledges or caves by day, relatively deep living, and appears to be naturally at low abundance.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. In 10 years of monitoring the artisanal catch it has yet to be recorded (Nevill, J.E.G 2022). This likely 
reflects its general scarcity in local waters. 

Photo provided courtesy of GVI/SPGA.

Bray, D.J. Lethrinus erythracanthus in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2458 (12/06/22). 
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 erythracanthus. The IUCN Red List 2016: e.T16719994A16722335. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16719994A16722335.en. (11/06/22).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/1862 (11/06/22). 

Nevill, J.E.G. & Gendron, G. (2022). Lethrinus erythracanthus, Orange-spotted emperor. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/lethrinus-erythracanthus-valenciennes-1830/