Lethrinus nebulosus

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Lethrinus nebulosus
Lethrinus nebulosus JNC1837.JPG
A Lethrinus nebulosus specimen collected off Ilot Signal (off Nouméa), New Caledonia in 2006. It has an overall fork length of 42.2 cm, and weighs 1,400 g. Note that this fish has been speared.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Spariformes
Family: Lethrinidae
Genus: Lethrinus
Species:
L. nebulosus
Binomial name
Lethrinus nebulosus
(Forsskål, 1775) [2]
Synonyms [3]
  • Sciaena nebulosa Forsskål, 1775
  • Sparus choerorynchus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Lethrinus choerorynchus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
  • Lethrinus maculatus Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus erythrurus Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus gothofredi Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus korely Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus centurio Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus esculentus Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus karwa Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus alboguttatus Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus fasciatus Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus fraenatus Valenciennes, 1830
  • Lethrinus cyanoxanthus Richardson, 1843
  • Lethrinus anatarius Richardson, 1845
  • Lethrinus guentheri Bleeker, 1873
  • Lethrinus aurolineatus Macleay, 1882
  • Lethrinus carinatus Weber, 1913
  • Lethrinus devisianus Whitley, 1929
  • Lethrinus perselectus Whitley, 1933

Lethrinus nebulosus, the spangled emperor, green snapper, morwong, north-west snapper, sand bream, sand snapper, sixteen-pounder, sharie, sheri and yellow sweetlip, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. This species is found the Indo-West Pacific region.

Contents

Taxonomy

Lethrinus nebulosus was first formally described as Sciaena nebulosa by the Swedish-speaking Finnish explorer, orientalist, naturalist Peter Forsskål and published in 1775 in Descriptiones animalium edited by Carsten Niebuhr with no Type locality being given but it is assumed to be the Red Sea. [4] In 2022 the population of this species found off the coast of Southern Africa south of northern KwaZulu-Natal was recognised as a valid separate species from L. nebulosus, Lethrinus scoparius . [5] Some authors place the genus Lethrinus in the monotypic subfamily Lethrininae, with all the other genera of Lethrinidae placed in the Monotaxinae, however, the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise the subfamilies traditionally accepted within the family Lethrinidae as valid. The family Lethrinidae is classified by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as belonging to the order Spariformes. [6]

Etymology

Lethrinus nebulosus has the specific name nebulosus which means "cloudy", Forsskål described it as having “longitudinal clouds of blue and yellow-brown” which is thought to be an allurion to the irregular dark bars that sometimes appear on its flanks. [7]

Description

LethrinusNebulosus.png

This species commonly grows to approximately 70 cm in length, however the largest individuals have been found to be 87 cm.[clarification needed] It is yellow to yellowish-brown or bronze in colour, the belly being lighter. It has scattered blue markings over the body. The cheeks have no scales and may have a vertical blue markings. [8] It has whitish or yellowish fins with a yellowish-edged dorsal fin. [3]

Distribution

This fish occurs in the waters of East Africa to the southern parts of Japan. It also lives in Australian coastal waters, and has been recorded in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf [3] and New Caledonia, [9] [10] where it is one of the major commercial fish. [9]

Habitat

Lethrinus nebulosus inhabits both marine and brackish waters at depths of between 10 and 75 metres. It is a non-migratory species, [3] and is found on coral and rocky reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, as well as over sandy substrates. [8] Juveniles may be found in large schools.

Diet

This species feeds mainly on mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans. It also eats polychaetes and other fish, but less commonly.

As food

A Lethrinus nebulosus Lethrinus nebulosus.jpg
A Lethrinus nebulosus

Lethrinus nebulosus is sought after by recreational fishers and is considered to be delicious. [9] [11]

Parasites

As with most fish, Lethrinus nebulosus is the host of many species of parasites. [12] Monogeneans parasitic on the gills include the diplectanids Calydiscoides difficilis, Calydiscoides duplicostatus and Calydiscoides terpsichore, [13] an ancyrocephalid, [12] and an unidentified polyopisthocotylean. [12] The pharyngeal teeth harbour a species of the capsalid monogenean Encotyllabe [12] which is specialised to this special habitat. Copepods parasitic on the gills include three species of the hatschekiid Hatschekia including Hatschekia gracilis. [12] The digestive tract harbours the opecoelid Macvicaria macassarensis [12] and the zoogonid Diphterostomum tropicum. [14] In New Caledonia, where its parasites were studied, Lethrinus nebulosus has a total of eleven species of parasites. [12]

Distribution and population

Spangled Emperor are a very commonly found fish in many locations. They can be found around East Africa, Japan, Australia, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. They usually inhabit waters 20-300 meters deep, but can be found shallower, more commonly near structure.

Being a good eating fish, over exploitation of this species has significantly decreased the population especially in the Persian Gulf, where the development of Emirati fishing vessels has considerably decreased the amount of 'Sheri' or 'Sherry' caught. However, it is still being caught at near sustainable numbers, and its offshore populations remain of lower concern. Around 3000 tons of Lethrinus nebulosus is caught every year around the Persian Gulf.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lethrinidae</span> Family of fishes

Lethrinidae are a family of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Spariformes commonly known as emperors, emperor breams, and pigface breams.

<i>Lethrinus miniatus</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus miniatus, the trumpet emperor, redthroat emperor, sweetlip emperor, Sweetlip Swoose, island snapper, yellowmouth perch, yellowmouth snapper, lipper or nannygal, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. This species is found the eastern Indo-West Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lutjanidae</span> Family of fishes

Lutjanidae, or snappers are a family of perciform fish, mainly marine, but with some members inhabiting estuaries, feeding in fresh water. The family includes about 113 species. Some are important food fish. One of the best known is the red snapper.

<i>Lethrinus laticaudis</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus laticaudis, the grass emperor, blue-lined emperor, blue-spotted emperor, brown kelp-fish, brown morwong, brown sweetlip, coral bream, grass sweetlip, grey sweetlip, piggy, red throat, red-finned emperor, snapper bream, squire, sweet-lips or tricky snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. This fish is found in the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Calydiscoides euzeti</i> Species of flatworm

Calydiscoides euzeti is a species of monogenean of the family Diplectanidae.

<i>Lethrinus</i> Genus of fishes

Lethrinus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. These fishes are mostly found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, with a single species in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Lethrinus obsoletus</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus obsoletus, the orange-striped emperor, yellow-banded emperor or yellowstripe emperor, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors or emperor breams. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Lethrinus atkinsoni</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus atkinsoni, the Pacific yellowtail emperor,, Atkinson's emperor, reticulated emperor, tricky snapper, Tuamotu emperor, yellow morwong or yellow-tailed emperor is a species of marine ray-finned fish benomging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperor breams and emperors. This fish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Lethrinus harak</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus harak, the thumbprint emperorblackblotch emperor or blackspot emperor, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the Family Lethrinidae. the emperors and emperor breams. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Lethrinus lentjan</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus lentjan, the pink ear emperor, redspot emperor, purple ear emperor or purple-headed emperor, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Lethrinus mahsena</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus mahsena, common names the sky emperor, mahsena emperor, and cutthroat emperor, is a species of emperor fish. It grows to 65 cm (26 in) in length, but is commonly found at between 35 and 45 cm. This fish may be yellow to greenish-blue or olive-grey, becoming paler toward the belly. It is a non-migratory, reef-associated fish that has a high commercial value.

<i>Lethrinus microdon</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus microdon, the smalltooth emperor, longface emperor or pigface bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. This species has a widespread distribution in the Indo-Pacific.

Lethrinus scoparius is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. This species is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean. L. scoparius was previously considered to be a junior synonyms of L. nebulosus.

<i>Lethrinus rubrioperculatus</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus rubrioperculatus,the spotcheek emperor, red-eared emperor, red-ears, red-edged emperor, scarlet-cheek emperor, and spot cheek emperor, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors or emperor breams. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Pseudorhabdosynochus</i> Genus of flatworms

Pseudorhabdosynochus is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans, included in the family Diplectanidae. The type-species of the genus is Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli .

Calydiscoides is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans, included in the family Diplectanidae.

<i>Hamacreadium cribbi</i> Species of flatworm

Hamacreadium cribbi is a species of digenean, parasitic in the lethrinid fish Lethrinus miniatus. The species was collected off New Caledonia.

Lethrinitrema is a genus of monogeneans belonging to the family Ancyrocephalidae. The genus was created by Susan Lim and Jean-Lou Justine in 2011 for parasites of lethrinid fish from New Caledonia. All members of the genus are parasitic on the gills of fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean-Lou Justine</span> French parasitologist and zoologist

Jean-Lou Justine, French parasitologist and zoologist, is a professor at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, and a specialist of fish parasites and invasive land planarians.

<i>Lethrinus borbonicus</i> Species of fish

Lethrinus borbonicus, the snubnose emperor, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperor breams and emperors. This species is found in the Western Indian Ocean and is of some importance to commercial fisheries in that region.

References

  1. ↑ Carpenter, K.E.; Lawrence, A. & Myers, R. (2016). "Lethrinus nebulosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T16720181A16722360. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16720181A16722360.en . Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775)". Marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Lethrinus nebulosus" in FishBase. October 2023 version.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Lethrinus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Wouter Holleman; Gavin Gouws; Jessica R. Glass; Bruce Q. Mann (2022). "Resurrection of Lethrinus scoparius Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 (Perciformes: Lethrinidae), from South African waters". Zootaxa. 5174 (5). doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5174.5.4.
  6. ↑ Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 502–506. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN   2015037522. OCLC   951899884. OL   25909650M.
  7. ↑ "Order SPARIFORMES: Families LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Spangled Emperor Lethrinus nebulosus" . Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 Laboute, P. & Grandperrin, R. (2000). Poissons de Nouvelle-Calédonie (in French). Nouméa, New Caledonia: Éditions Catherine Ledru.
  10. ↑ Fricke, R.; Kulbicki, M. & Wantiez, L. (2011). "Checklist of the fishes of New Caledonia, and their distribution in the Southwest Pacific Ocean (Pisces)". Stuttgarter Beitraege zur Naturkunde Serie A (Biologie). 4: 341–463.
  11. ↑ "Spangled Emperor Recreational Fishing". fish.wa.gov. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Justine, J.-L., Beveridge, I., Boxshall, G. A., Bray, R. A., Moravec, F. & Whittington, I. D. 2010: An annotated list of fish parasites (Copepoda, Monogenea, Digenea, Cestoda and Nematoda) collected from Emperors and Emperor Bream (Lethrinidae) in New Caledonia further highlights parasite biodiversity estimates on coral reef fish. Zootaxa, 2691, 1-40. Open-Access PDF
  13. ↑ Rascalou, G. & Justine, J.-L. 2007: Three species of Calydiscoides (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from five Lethrinus spp. (Lethrinidae: Perciformes) off New Caledonia, with a description of Calydiscoides terpsichore sp. n. Folia Parasitologica, 54, 191-202. doi : 10.14411/fp.2007.026
  14. ↑ Bray, RA.; Justine, J-L. (2014). "A review of the Zoogonidae (Digenea: Microphalloidea) from fishes of the waters around New Caledonia, with the description of Overstreetia cribbi n. sp". PeerJ. 2: e292. doi: 10.7717/peerj.292 . PMC   3961169 . PMID   24688868.
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