Yellowtail Emperor

Lethrinus atkinsoni

The yellowtail emperor (Lethrinus atkinsoni) is a medium to large reef fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae. Adults typically reach 30-45 cm in length, with a maximum of about 60 cm. They display a silvery-blue body with a distinctive yellow tail and yellowish pectoral fins. The head is robust with a slightly elongated snout and large eyes. Yellowtail emperors inhabit coral reefs, lagoons, and sandy areas at depths of 2-30 meters throughout the western Pacific, from southern Japan to northern Australia and eastward across Micronesia. They are often found singly or in small groups foraging over sandy substrates near reef edges. Their diet consists primarily of benthic invertebrates including crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, and polychaete worms, which they crush with their strong pharyngeal teeth. Juveniles tend to inhabit seagrass beds and sheltered lagoons. This species is important in both commercial and recreational fisheries across its range.