Yellow-edged lyretail

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Yellow-edged lyretail

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Serranidae
Subfamily: Epinephelinae
Genus: Variola
Species: V. louti
Binomial name
Variola louti
Forsskål, 1775

Yellow-edged lyretail is the common name for the species Variola louti. It is also commonly known as the lyretail grouper or the coronation cod.

Contents

[edit] Range

The Yellow-edged lyretail is found from the Red Sea to South Africa and the Pitcairn Islands, as far as southern Japan and Australia.[1]

Anterior view of juvenile, Taba, Red Sea.
Anterior view of juvenile, Taba, Red Sea.

[edit] Description

This fish reaches up to 81cm in length and 12kg in weight. It is distinguished by its lunate tail with a yellow-edged margin. As juveniles they resemble the goatfishes Parupeneus forsskali or Parupeneus macronema and may shadow them as they feed.[2]

[edit] Diet

Its diet is mainly of fishes, but also eats crabs, shrimps and stomatopods.[1]

[edit] Habitat

Lagoons, channels and seaward reefs, from 3m to 250m in depth.

[edit] Hazards

There have been reports of ciguatera poisoning, and this has led to the fish being banned from sale in Mauritius.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "Variola louti". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 5 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  2. ^ Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2
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