Lethrinidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lethrinidae |
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| Orange-striped emperor (Lethrinus obsoletus) | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Superfamily: | Percoidea |
| Family: | Lethrinidae Bonaparte, 1831 |
| Subfamilies and genera | |
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The Lethrinidae are a family of fish known by several cool names. You might hear them called emperors, emperor breams, or even pigface breams. They belong to a larger group of fish called Perciformes.
About Emperor Fish
Emperor fish are a type of fish that live in the ocean. They are known for their strong bodies and often colorful scales. These fish are quite popular for fishing in many parts of the world.
Where They Live
You can find emperor fish in the warm, tropical parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. One special type, Lethrinus atlanticus, also lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. They usually stay close to the bottom of the ocean where they find their food.
What They Eat
Emperor fish are what we call benthic feeders. This means they mostly eat things that live on or near the seafloor. Their diet includes small invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone, and tiny fish.
Some emperor fish have very strong teeth called molariform teeth. These teeth are flat and strong, much like our own back teeth (molars). They use these special teeth to crush the hard shells of creatures like mollusks (such as snails or clams) and crabs. This helps them get to the soft, yummy parts inside.
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Longface emperor (Lethrinus olivaceus)
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Striped large-eye bream (Gnathodentex aureolineatus)
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Humpnose big-eye bream (Monotaxis grandoculis)
See also
In Spanish: Lethrinidae para niños
