It is surprising that Lethrinus rubrioperculatus, a common and widespread species, was not described and named until 1978, as it was previously assumed to be the adult form of L. variegatus, which is much smaller. It is a good-food fish.
Details
§ 01
size
Common to 30 cm; max. 50 cm
color
Body olive-grey or brown with scattered irregular small black blotches. Lips and a spot on upper edge of operculum usually red. Fins pale or pinkish.
This species inhabits sandy and rubble areas of outer reef slopes down to a depth of 160 m, and its diet consists mainly of crustaceans, fish, echinoderms, and molluscs.
distinctive characters
This species has a dorsal fin with 10 spines and 9 rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays, and a pectoral fin with 13 rays. Its body is moderately elongate, with a depth of 3.0-3.4 inches in standard length, and a wide scaleless area on the upper posterior margin of the opercle. The eye is placed very near the dorsal profile, and the caudal fin is lunate, with the upper lobe usually longer.