LETHRINIDAE Lethrinus nebulosus (photo by Niphon Phongsuwan) Lethrinus nebulosus, 39.8 cm SL (from Iriomote I., Japan; photo by Seishi Kimura) Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775) Spangled Emperor D X, 9; A III, 8; P1 13; P2 I, 5; LLp 46-48. Body moderately elongate, compressed. Head profile around eye nearly straight, or distinctly concave in large adults. Outer surface of maxilla smooth or with a longitudinal ridge. Fourth or fifth dorsal-fin spine longest. First anal-fin soft ray longest. Cheek not covered with scales; inner surface of pectoral fin axil covered with scales; 5 1/2 scale rows between base of fifth dorsal-fin spine and lateral line; usually 15 scale rows in lower series around caudal peduncle. Color: body yellowish or bronze dorsally, lighter ventrally. Blue spots and/or streaks radiating forward from eye. Melanophores covering most of pelvic-fin membranes; other fins whitish or yellowish. Size: maximum length about 80 cm. Distribution: widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from east coast of Africa east to Samoa, and southern Japan south to Australia. Remarks: occurs on nearshore and offshore reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps and sandy areas to depths of 75 m. Feeds on a wide variety of benthic invertebrates. Commercially important species. (Hiroyuki Motomura)