Fisheries Biology of the Slender Emperor Lethrinus variegatus (valenciennei, 1830) inhabitant in the Gulf of Suez, Egyptian Red Sea

Abstract

East Africa to the Ryukyu Islands, New Caledonia and recently reported from Tonga (Randall et al., 2003). Moreover, Bagnis et al. (1984) reported it from French Polynesian islands. It may be a misidentification of Lethrinus rubrioperculatus (Carpenter & Allen, 1989). They are carnivorous bottom feeding mainly on benthic invertebrates or fishes (Sommer et al., 1996). Lethrinids have economically and commercially importance because of their preferable taste, highly valued food protein and the high local market price.