Pink ear emperor

Lethrinus lentjan, the pink ear emperor, redspot emperor, purple ear emperor or purple-headed emperor, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Habitat

Lethrinus lentjan lives mainly in coastal areas. It occurs in coral reefs and also inhabits areas with sandy bottoms and grassy seabeds, in mangrove swamps, and deep lagoons. Juveniles are more commonly associated with shallow areas, often in loose aggregations with adult specimens. Adults are usually solitary and may be found in waters up to 84 metres in depth.

Distribution

Lethrinus lentjan is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific and other waters. It is known to live in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, in Australia on the Great Barrier Reef, and the northern half of Australia., in the lagoon around New Caledonia, along the east coast of Africa, and in the waters of Taiwan.

Behaviour

Lethrinus lentjan is a carnivore and eats mostly crustaceans and mollusks such as snails. It also feeds on echinoderms, polychaetes, bivalves, worms, and various fishes.