About Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775)
Lethrinus harak has a dorsal fin supported by 10 spines and 9 soft rays, while its anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 8 soft rays. This species is olive-green, and its color grows paler toward the belly. It can reach a maximum total length of 50 cm (20 in), but most individuals commonly grow to 30 cm (12 in). It has a characteristic large, dark, elliptical blotch on its sides, located directly under the lateral line, and this blotch often has a yellow edge. Occasionally, pale blue dots can be found around each nostril and along the lower rim of the eyes. Its caudal fin is reddish or orange, while its pelvic, dorsal, and pectoral fins range from pinkish to white. Its mouth is somewhat protractile and has thick lips. Lethrinus harak has a wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific. It occurs along the eastern coast of Africa, from the northern Red Sea south to South Africa, as well as in the western Indian Ocean islands, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and southern India. It is also found from the Andaman Sea and Indo-Malayan Archipelago into the Pacific Ocean, ranging as far east as Samoa, north to Japan, and south to northeastern Australia. This species inhabits depths of up to 20 m (66 ft). It lives in areas with sandy bottoms and coral rubble, as well as in mangroves, inshore seagrass areas, lagoons, and channels. It is non-migratory, and can be found either solitary or in small schools. Seagrass beds serve as nursery areas for this species.
