Taxonomy of Finfish (1+2)

3.3.9.1.14 Lethrinidae (Emperors, Pig-face breams, Large eye-breams)

 

• Head large, with deep suborbital space
• Short gill rakers, knoblike
• Dorsal fin single continuous with 10 spines and 9 or 10 branched (soft) rays
• Cheeks , upper surface of head and preorbital area scaleless in the genus Lethrinus, scales present on cheek in other genera of Lethrinidae
• Maxilla overlapping premaxilla

Eg. Lethrinus harak

Similar Families

Lutjanidae - Cheek always scaled; edge of preopercle serrated, a preopercular notch and an interopercular knob often present.

Nemipteridae - Scaled cheek; preopercle margin serrated preorbital spines present in the genera, Scolopsis, Pentapodus and Parascolopsis.

Sparidae - Posterior tip of premaxilla overlap maxilla at hind end of mouth; more than 10 dorsal spines.

Haemulidae - Scales always present between eye and mouth; 2 or more pores present on chin; second anal fin spine very strong.