Spangled Emperor

Lethrinus nebulosus, commonly known as the Spangled Emperor, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae. This species is distributed across the Indo-West Pacific region, including waters from East Africa to 🇯🇵 Japan and 🇦🇺 Australia, as well as in the 🌊 Red Sea, 🌊 Persian Gulf, and 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France), where it is a significant commercial catch.

Initially described by Peter Forsskål as Sciaena nebulosa, it was later recognized in 2022 that the population off the coast of Southern Africa is a distinct species, Lethrinus scoparius. The family Lethrinidae is classified under the order Spariformes according to the 5th edition of Fishes of the World. The species name "nebulosus," meaning "cloudy," refers to the characteristic blue and yellow-brown longitudinal clouds that appear as irregular dark bars on its flanks.

Lethrinus nebulosus commonly reaches lengths of up to 70 cm, with the largest individuals growing to 87 cm. It has a yellow to yellowish-brown or bronze coloration with lighter bellies and scattered blue markings. The cheeks are scaleless and may feature vertical blue markings, while its fins are whitish or yellowish with a yellow-edged dorsal fin.

This species inhabits both marine and brackish environments at depths between 10 and 75 meters, favoring coral and rocky reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, and sandy substrates. Juveniles often form large schools. L. nebulosus primarily feeds on molluscs, echinoderms, and crustaceans, with occasional consumption of polychaetes and other fishes.

The Spangled Emperor is highly valued by recreational fishers for its taste. It also hosts a variety of parasites, including several species of monogeneans and copepods, particularly studied in 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France), where the species is associated with eleven different parasites.

Conservation concerns exist due to overexploitation in certain areas, notably the 🌊 Persian Gulf, where fishing practices have led to a decline in population numbers. However, current catch levels are near sustainable, with annual catches around the 🌊 Persian Gulf totaling approximately 3,000 tons. Despite this, the species is not considered to be under significant threat globally.