Bec De Cane Lippu

The largest species of Lethrinus distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep, its depth 2.5-2.7 times in standard length (SL); head length 0.9-1 times in body depth, 2.5-2.8 times in SL; dorsal profile near eye nearly straight or slightly convex; snout moderately short, its length about 1.8-2.4 times in HL, measured without the lip the snout is 0.8-1.1 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile distinctly concave in large individuals and nearly straight in smaller individuals, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 55° and 69°; interorbital space convex; posterior nostril an oblong longitudinal opening, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to or far removed from dorsal profile, its length 2.7-5.2 times in HL; cheek moderately high, its height 2-3.4 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws conical; outer surface of maxilla smooth or with a longitudinal ridge; D X,9 with 4th or 5th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.5-3.5 times in body depth; A III,8 with the 3rd, 4th or 5th soft ray usually the longest, its length much longer than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 0.8-1.1 times in length of entire anal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 13; pelvic-fin membranes between rays closest to body with or without dense melanophores; cheek without scales; 46-48 lateral-line scales; 4 ½ scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; 15-18 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; usually 15 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; 5-8 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base densely covered with scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of body brown to dark grey, with indistinct scattered small dark and light spots, with irregular light stripes sometimes on lower sides; head brown or grey, often with many small orange spots on cheeks; pectoral and pelvic fins white to orangish, dorsal and anal fins mottled orange and bluish; caudal fin often bright orange (Ref. 114226).

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

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Occurs in deep lagoons and channels, outer reef slopes and adjacent soft bottom areas (Ref. 30573). Solitary in or near ledges or caves by day (Ref. 9710). Feeds on echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks (Ref. 171), echinoids, crinoids and starfish (Ref. 37816). May be ciguatoxic in some areas (Ref. 37816). Caught by handline, vertical longline, traps, and trawls. Marketed mostly fresh (Ref. 171, 68703).

fisheries: commercial

分布於印度-太平洋區，西起東非，東至土木土群島，北至日本南部，南迄澳洲北部。台灣主要分布於澎湖海域。

一般利用陷阱法或底拖網捕獲，全年都可以捕獲。肉質尚可，用糖醋、碳烤或者是煮味噌湯，都是料理的好方法。有報導因為食物鏈之故，發生體內累積熱帶魚毒，而引起食用者食物中毒的記錄。

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55°-69°。眼間隔凸起。眼大，位於近於頭背側，但隨著成長而漸分離。口端位；兩頜具犬齒及絨毛狀齒，後方側齒呈犬齒狀；上頜骨上緣平滑或稍呈鋸齒狀。頰部無鱗；胸鰭基部內側具鱗；側線鱗數46-48；側線上鱗列數4.5；側線下鱗列數15-18。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3、4或5軟條通常最長，長於軟條部之基底長；胸鰭軟條13；尾鰭分叉，兩葉先端鈍圓型。體背側暗灰至褐色，散在許多不顯的暗及淡色斑點，有時在體側下半部具淡色不規則縱紋；頭部褐色或灰色，頰部通常具橘點。胸及腹鰭白色至橘紅色；背及臀鰭橘和藍色交雜；尾鰭鮮橘色。

主要棲息於軟深的潟湖、岩礁區外緣的砂泥地，主要分布的深度在18-120公尺。群居性，主要以軟體動物、甲殼類及小魚為食。

Lethrinus erythracanthus, common names the orange-spotted emperor, orangefin emperor, and yellow-spotted emperor, is a species of emperor fish.

Occurs in deep lagoons and channels and outer reef slopes and adjacent soft bottom areas. Feeds on echinoderms, crustaceans and molluscs. The name @L. kallopterus@ has long been applied to this species. @L. cinnabarinus@ Richardson also appears to be synonymous with this species (Ref. 2295). Also caught with handlines and vertical longlines (Ref. 9775).