Fish
Blue Emperor
Lethrinus nebulosus
A handsome emperor scattered with bright orange spots and clusters of colour around the eye, and an important food-fish of tropical reefs.
Also known as blou keiser
- Typical size
- Attains 70 cm
- Habitat
- Deeper reef and sand
- Depth
- Down to 120 m
The blue emperor is irregularly marked with small, bright orange spots, gathered into a cluster around the eye and nostrils, while its fins are generally rose red and often patterned with orange reticulations. It grows to about 70 cm.
It favours deeper water, occurring down to around 120 m, and ranges through the Indo-West Pacific. From Kenya to the Mozambique channel it is a valued food-fish, taken by line over reef and sand.