Lethrinus microdon Valenciennes, 1830
Smalltooth emperor
Lethrinus microdon
photo by Steene, R.

 Family:  Lethrinidae (Emperors or scavengers), subfamily: Lethrininae
 Max. size:  80 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,850.0 g
 Environment:  reef-associated; depth range 10 - 80 m, non-migratory
 Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: widespread, including the Red Sea, Arabian (Persian) Gulf, East Africa to Sri Lanka, to the Ryukyu Islands and Papua New Guinea. Also recorded from Micronesia (Ref. 3807) and French Polynesia (Ref. 4517) but these are probably misidentifications of Lethrinus olivaceus.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. The snout is moderately long, its dorsal profile slightly concave. Body color is bluish gray or brown often with scattered irregular dark blotches on sides; sometimes three dark streaks radiate forward from the eye. The fins are pale or orangish.
 Biology:  Found over sandy areas near coral reefs (Ref. 30573). Feeds on fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and polychaetes. Swims in small schools sometimes together with L. olivaceous. Utilized as a food fish.
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  reports of ciguatera poisoning
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Luna, Susan M. - 10.11.90
 Modified by: Santos, Kristine - 15.04.13
 Checked by: Garilao, Cristina V. - 05.07.93

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