Lethrinus erythracanthus Valenciennes, 1830

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8

The largest species of Lethrinus. Deep body, blunt snout with orange spots, and bright orange rounded fins of adults (straw yellow in the Indian Ocean) are distinctive . The caudal fin is only slightly forked with tips becoming rounded in adults. Body is brown dark gray, with indistinct scattered small dark and light stripes sometimes on lower sides. The head is brown or gray, often with small orange spots on the cheeks in small adults. The Pectoral and Pelvic fins are white to orangish. The dorsal and anal fins are mottled orange and bluish. The caudal fin is often bright orange, especially in sub adults.