Gymnocranius indicus Chen, Miki, Nevill & Borsa, 2024

Family:  Lethrinidae (Emperors or scavengers), subfamily: Monotaxinae
Max. size:  29.1 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 18 - 25 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: from Reunion I. and Seychelles (including Tanzania and Mauritius) to the Andaman Sea (Aceh) and Indonesia (off West Sumatra and West Java).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-10. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body shape oblong to elongate, SL/BDd ratio 2.7-3.1, forehead prominent; caudal fin is large, moderately forked with a subtle middle notch, its lobes slightly convex inside; flanks silvery; anal fin, caudal fin, dorsal fin, and pectoral fin reddish to red; distinctive dark patch above eye; protruding, large eyes (eye diameter reaching 37-40% of head length) (Ref. 131644).
Biology:  Occurrence based on underwater sightings of solitary individuals at ca. 18-25 m depth on the outer slope of the reef off Saint-Gilles on the western coast of Reunion Island, above a bottom constituted by sand, lava boulders, and sparse coral colonies (Ref. 131644).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.