Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) is a saltwater, brackish species recorded in Taiwan. It is mainly found over reef, coral, rocky, sand, seagrass, mangrove, at depths of 10–75 m. The main season in Taiwan runs summer, autumn.
Scientific name: Lethrinus nebulosus · Water: Saltwater, Brackish · Season: Summer, Autumn
Size: up to 87 cm
The spangled emperor, 青嘴龍占 in Taiwan, is a yellow-bronze lethrinid with a scaleless cheek, a valuable fish around the island and off Penghu. Its range is the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and East Africa to southern Japan and Samoa. It works coral reefs and sandy ground and is taken from both shore and boat.
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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