Longface Emperor

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately slender, its depth 2.9-3.4 times in standard length; head length 1.1-1.3 times in body depth, 2.4-2.9 times in SL, dorsal profile near eye nearly straight or with small bump; snout length about 1.7-2.2 times in HL, measured without the lip the snout is 0.6-0.8 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile slightly concave, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 40° and 50°; interorbital space convex to flat; posterior nostril a longitudinal oblong opening, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to or not close to dorsal profile, its length 3.4-6.2 times in HL; cheek height 3 to 3.8 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws conical; outer surface of maxilla smooth; D X, 9 with the 3rd or 4th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.4-2.8 times in body depth; A III,8 with the first soft ray usually the longest, its length almost equal to or slightly shorter than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 1.3-1.7 times in length of entire anal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 13; pelvic-fin membranes between rays closest to body with dense melanophores; cheek without scales; 46-48 lateral-line scales; 5 ½ scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; usually 16-17 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; 15 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; 6-9 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base without scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of body grey, lighter ventrally, often with scattered irregular dark blotches; snout with wavy dark streaks, upper jaw, especially near corner of mouth sometimes edged behind with red (Ref. 114226).

Protogyny have yet to be confirmed for this species.

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

Occur inshore (Ref. 75154). Largest and the longest-snouted lethrinid (Ref. 37816). Found in sandy coastal areas, lagoons, and reef slopes (Ref. 30573). Juveniles are found in shallow sandy areas. Often occur in large schools. Adults deep along coastal slopes and drop-offs, usually solitary (Ref. 48635). Feed on cephalopods, fish and benthic crustaceans (Ref. 2295).

Largest and the longest-snouted lethrinid (Ref. 37816). Found in sandy coastal areas, lagoons, and reef slopes (Ref. 30573). Juveniles are found in shallow sandy areas. Often occurs in large schools. Adults deep along coastal slopes and drop-offs, usually solitary (Ref. 48635). Very active and swims fast (Ref. 90102). Feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. In Palau, it spawns throughout the year on the first few days of the lunar month along the edges of reefs. Large individuals often ciguatoxic in New Caledonia and possibly elsewhere in Oceania (Ref. 9775). Caught mostly with handline and traps, occasionally by trawls and gill nets (Ref. 68703). Ref. 48635 reports maximum depth of occurrence.

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。台灣分布於四週沿海及離島海域。

在台灣南部以及澎湖的海域，可以手釣或漁船捕撈到，全年都有生產這種美味的魚，燒烤、清蒸、紅燒都好吃。特別值得注意的是，當魚體不新鮮時，肉質就會變硬、變僵。

體延長而呈長橢圓形。吻長而尖，吻上緣與上頜間的角度為40°-50°。眼間隔微凸或平坦。眼大，位於近於頭背側。口端位；兩頜具犬齒及絨毛狀齒，後方側齒呈犬齒狀；上頜骨上緣平滑。頰部無鱗；胸鰭基部內側不具鱗；側線鱗數46-48；側線上鱗列數5.5；側線下鱗列數16-17。背鰭單一，不具深刻，具硬棘X，軟條9，第III或IV棘最長；臀鰭硬棘III，軟條8，第1軟條通常最長，但等於或短於軟條部之基底長；胸鰭軟條13；尾鰭分叉，兩葉先端尖型。體呈灰褐至黃褐色，散佈許多不顯之不規則斑駁；吻部具暗色波紋；上頜偏紅，尤其於口角處深紅色。以前所記載之長吻龍占(/Lethrinus miniatus/)為本種之誤鑑。

主要棲息於軟深的潟湖、岩礁區或珊瑚礁外緣砂泥地，幼魚一般活動於沿岸，主要分布的深度在1-185公尺。群居性，肉食性，以礁區的小魚或無脊椎動物為食。

Lethrinus olivaceus, common name longface emperor or long-nosed emperor, is a species of bony fishes belonging to the family Lethrinidae.

Found in sandy coastal areas, lagoons, and reef slopes. Juveniles are found in shallow sandy areas. Often occurs in large schools. Feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. In Palau, it spawns throughout the year on the first few days of the lunar month along the edges of reefs. Also caught with handlines (Ref. 9775). Large individuals often ciguatoxic in New Caledonia and possibly elsewhere in Oceania (Ref. 9775)