Smalltooth emperor (Lethrinus microdon) is a saltwater species recorded in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 10–200 m.
Scientific name: Lethrinus microdon · Water: Saltwater
Size: up to 80 cm
The smalltooth emperor is a lethrinid found over sandy areas near coral reefs. It feeds on fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods and polychaetes, and it swims in small schools, sometimes together with the longface emperor. Its range is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, taking in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and East Africa through Sri Lanka to the Ryukyu Islands and Papua New Guinea; records from Micronesia and French Polynesia are probably misidentifications of the longface emperor. It lives from 10 to 200 m and reaches about 80 cm total length, commonly 40 cm, and up to about 4.9 kg. It supports commercial fisheries and is a game fish, selling in the highest price band, with a trophic level of 3.8, moderate to high fishing vulnerability at 46 of 100, very high climate vulnerability at 89, and medium resilience.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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