| 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.
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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]
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]
Its diet is mainly of fishes, but also eats crabs, shrimps and stomatopods.[1]
Lagoons, channels and seaward reefs, from 3m to 250m in depth.
There have been reports of ciguatera poisoning, and this has led to the fish being banned from sale in Mauritius.[1]