Lethrinidae: K III B4

Lethrinus rubrioperculatus Sato, 1978

Spotcheek emperor

* literature

Egg: This egg has only been recognised on 2 occasions, and only because the larvae hatched from the eggs, were successfully barcoded. On the first occasion, in January 2012, it was described as having dark chromatophores clustered on the oil globule, and scattered on the larva, an amber hue to the egg, a rough but clear yolk, and oval oil globule. The photo (A) was taken. On the second occasion, in March 2012, it was listed as KIIIB3A with no notes.

Larva: The newly hatched larva was not seen, and the position of the oil globule at this stage is unknown. At both 3 days (B), and 5 days post hatch the larva has a distinctive chromatophore pattern; two black spots over the gut and short strips of black (rather than spots) along the ventral edge of the notochord. B: 3 days, C: 5 days (25°C).

But for barcoding, this egg would have gone undetected off Park Rynie. The barcodes of the two sets of larvae from eggs mentioned above, matched 6 adults collected locally, mostly off Park Rynie (BOLD).