Redthroat Emperor

Lethrinus miniatus has a deep body with its standard length being between 2.4 and 2.8 times its depth. The dorsal fin is supported by 10 spines and 9 soft rays while the anal fin is supported by3 spines and 8 soft rays. The colour of the body varies from silver to light greyish-brown. The head shows a reddish hue and sometimes there are 8-9 darker vertical bars on the body. The base of the pectoral fin is bright red; the fins are pale to reddish in colour except that the spiny parts of the dorsal and anal fins are bright red. There is frequently a streak of red running from the snout to the upper operculum. They typically have reddish lips and usually the centre of each scale is dark. This species has a maximum published total length of 90 cm (35 in), although 40 cm (16 in) is more typical.

Lethrinus miniatus is found in the Eastern Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. In Australia, this species ranges from Cape Freycinet in Western Australia north and east along the coasts as far as Sydney. It is also found in the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands and New Caledonia. The adults spend the day on coral reefs rarely moving into sand and rubble areas between patches of coral to feed. During the night, they leave the reef and go to areas of sandy substrates where they actively hunt. Juveniles are found in sea grass beds and mangroves, preferring shallower, coastal waters.

Lethrinus miniatus has the specific name miniatus, meaning "bright red" or "scarlet", an allusion to the reddish colour of the lips and/or vivid red colour sometimes visible between spines of the dorsal fin.