Order Perciformes Family Lethrinidae(emperors or emperor breams) Trumpet emperor Lethrinus miniatus (Forster, 1801). Max length : 90cm TL
Distribution; Western Pacific/northern Australia (including Western Australia), New Caledonia, and the Ryukyu Islands. Occurrence records outside distributional range probably refer to Lethrinus olivaceus. General; Snout moderately long. Cheek without scales. Body silvery, tan or yellowish in color, often with a series of 8 or 9 dark bars. Vertical bars may be absent in some individuals. Base of pectoral fin red. Occasionally a red streak is present, originating on the upper operculum, passing beneath the eye and on to the snout. Reddish lips. Fins pale or reddish, sometimes brilliant red on membranes near base of pelvic fin and between spinous rays of dorsal and anal fin. The base of scales often black. Adults inhabit coral reefs during daytime where they feed occasionally in sand and rubble areas between coral heads. At night, they move out over the sandy sea floor and forage actively. Usually occur in small schools. Juveniles live in shallow, inshore waters such as seagrass and mangrove areas, moving into deeper water as they age. Feed mainly on crustaceans, echinoderms, mollusks and fish, with crabs and sea urchins predominating. Much of the information reported for this species was based on misidentifications and referred to L. olivaceous. L. miniatus are serial hermaphrodites with a protogynous strategy (i.e, female first, male second). Marketed fresh or frozen
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