Blackspot Emperor

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep, its depth 2.6-2.8 times in standard length; head length 0.9-1 times in body depth, 2.7-3.1 times in SL length, dorsal profile near eye distinctly or slightly convex; snout short and blunt, its length about 2.0-2.6 times in HL, measured without the lip the snout is 0.9-1 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile nearly straight, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 60° and 70°; interorbital space convex or almost flat; posterior nostril a narrow longitudinal slit, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to dorsal profile, its length 3.4-4.2 times in HL; cheek not very high, its height 2.3-3.1 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws of adults molars or rounded; outer surface of maxilla smooth or with a longitudinal ridge; D X,9 the 4th or 5th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.5-3.1 times in body depth; A III,8 with the first soft ray usually the longest, its length almost equal to or longer or shorter than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 1.2-1.6 times in length of entire anal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 13; pelvic-fin membranes between rays closest to body without dense melanophores; cheek without scales; 46-47 lateral-line scales usually; usually 5 ½ (sometimes 4 ½) scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; 14-16 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; 13-14 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; 4-8 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base densely covered with scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of body olive or grey above, shading to silvery white below; a large elliptical black spot, often broadly edged in yellow, on side directly below lateral line and centered at a vertical near the posterior tip of pectoral fins; sometimes light blue dots bordering lower rim of eye and around nostrils; pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins white to pinkish; caudal fin orange or reddish; vertical fins sometimes lightly mottled or striped (Ref. 114226).

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Found solitary or in small schools over shallow sandy, coral rubble, mangroves, lagoons, channel and seagrass areas inshore and adjacent to coral reefs (Ref. 2295). Present in seagrass beds at juvenile stage (Ref. 41878). Feeds on polychaetes, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms and small fish (Ref. 2295).

Found solitary or in small schools over shallow sandy, coral rubble, mangroves, lagoons, channel and seagrass areas inshore and adjacent to coral reefs. Feeds on polychaetes, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms and small fish. Reported to spawn throughout the year during the first five days of the lunar month in large aggregations in Palau. Caught mostly by shore seine, gill nets, traps, and handline. Marketed mostly fresh (Ref. 171, 68703); flesh spoils rapidly (Ref. 4369).

fisheries: commercial

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起東非、紅海，東至薩摩亞，北至日本南部，南至澳洲北部。台灣分布於南部、西部及小琉球海域。

一般以延繩釣、一支釣或底拖網等方式捕獲，全年都可以捕撈到，尤其夏天特別多。屬於中型食用魚種，魚頭可以煮豆腐味噌湯，小魚可供觀賞。

體延長而呈長橢圓形。吻中短而略鈍，吻上緣與上頜間的角度為60°-70°。眼間隔凸起或幾平坦。眼大，位於近於頭背側。口端位；兩頜具犬齒及絨毛狀齒，後方側齒呈圓形或臼齒狀；上頜骨上緣平滑或稍呈鋸齒狀。頰部無鱗；胸鰭基部內側具鱗；側線鱗數46-47；側線上鱗列數4.5-5.5(大部分為5.5)；側線下鱗列數13-14。背鰭單一，不具深刻，具硬棘X，軟條9，第IV或V棘最長；臀鰭硬棘III，軟條8，第1軟條通常最長，但短於、等於或略長於軟條部之基底長；胸鰭軟條13；尾鰭分叉，兩葉先端尖型。體背側綠褐色或灰色，腹面銀白色，體側中央在側線下方有一明顯且有時具黃緣之大橢圓黑斑，在受驚嚇或睡眠時，身體會出現若干雜斑。各鰭淡粉紅色或淡色。

主要棲息於沿岸珊瑚礁、岩礁區外緣、沼澤區、紅樹林區或海藻床的砂泥地，主要分布的深度在5-20公尺。獨居或成小群活動，主要以軟體動物、甲殼類及小魚為食。

Lethrinus harak, common names the thumbprint emperor and blackspot emperor, is a species of emperor fish.

Found solitary or in small schools over shallow sandy, coral rubble, mangroves, lagoons, channel and seagrass areas inshore and adjacent to coral reefs. Feeds on polychaetes, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms and small fish. Reported to spawn throughout the year during the first five days of the lunar month in large aggregations in Belau. Also caught with shore seines and handlines (Ref. 9775).