LETHRINIDAE Lethrinus lentjan, 16.5 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) Lethrinus lentjan (Lacepède, 1802) Pink Ear Emperor D X, 9; A III, 8; P1 13; LLp 46-47. Body moderately deep, 35.7-38.5% of SL. Dorsal profile of snout around eye straight. No scales on cheek; inner surface of pectoral fin base scaled or naked; 6 longitudinal scale rows (including small scales beneath dorsal fin base) between lateral line and base of middle dorsal fin spine. Color: body grayish dorsally, silvery ventrally; whitish spot at center of each scale on body; posterior margin of opercle red; base of pectoral fin sometimes with red marking; caudal fin mottled. Size: 52 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. Remarks: found in lagoons, coral reefs and seagrass beds; juveniles enter estuaries and mangrove swamps. Carnivorous, feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes and fishes. Esteemed as food fish. (Koichi Shibukawa)