Sky emperor
📖 Overview
Found over reef areas and adjacent sandy and seagrass areas . Feeds mainly on echinoderms (most frequently sea urchins), crustaceans and fishes; mollusks, tunicates, sponges, polychaetes and other worms are consumed in lesser quantities. A protogynous hermaphrodite . In most areas of the Red Sea, it is considered an excellent food fish but in certain areas of the Indian Ocean it may have an unpleasant 'coral' smell and taste . Utilized fresh for broiling and baking .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Body color is yellow to greenish-blue, becoming lighter ventrally; usually with nine or ten dusky yellow-green or brown bars. The head is purplish gray, sometimes with a red blotch on the nape. A red bar is at the base of pectoral fin, sometimes extending broadly below and above the pectoral fin base to the edge of the operculum. The base of the upper and sometimes lower rays of pectoral fin is red. The base and tips of the pelvic fins are often red. The membranes of the dorsal fin is red (sometimes restricted to the base of the fins). The anal fin is whitish with the membranes between the forward rays often red. The caudal fin, especially the tips is reddish.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sky emperor is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Sky emperor is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Sex change was found to commonly occur between the ages of 5 and 6 years . A diandric species . Length and age at sex change occur at 32 cm TL and 16 yrs, respectively .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 100 m . Tropical; 28°N - 26°S, 32°E - 82°E East Africa to Sri Lanka.
🌿 Ecology
echinoderms (most frequently sea urchins), crustaceans and fishes; mollusks, tunicates, sponges, pol
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 10 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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