Latin name

Variola louti

Other name

Yellowedge coronation trout, fairy cod, lunar tail rock cod, lunartailed cod, lyre-tail cod or moontail seabass.

Identification

The yellow-edged lyretail has an elongated body with head length greater than body depth, its standard body length being 2.8-3.3 times its depth. The gill cover is rounded with fine serrations along the edge and the lower edge is fleshy. There are three flat spines on the gill cover, the upper edge of which is straight. 

Features of fish fins

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. 

The dorsal fin contains 9 spines and 13-14 soft rays, while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The caudal fin is crescent-shaped with elongated upper and lower lobes and is about twice as long as the middle rays of the fin. The dorsal and anal fins have pointed posterior ends. 

Fish colouring

The overall colouration of the yellow-edged lyretail is reddish with blue blotches. They have a reddish colouration on the upper body, which often changes to an orange-white colouration on the underside. They have many small bluish or pinkish spots on their head, body and fins. The posterior edges of the fins are yellow. 

Distribution

It is distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, from the east coast of Africa, where it occurs from Durban in South Africa to the Red Sea, through the tropical Indian Ocean east to the Pacific Ocean, where it occurs as far north as southern Japan, south to Australia and east to Pitcairn Island. In Australia, it is found from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and from Cape York in Queensland south to Sydney in New South Wales, Frederick Reefs and Coringa Herald National Nature Reserve in the Coral Sea, and Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs and Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. It has recently been recorded twice in the eastern Mediterranean off Cyprus, either by release into an aquarium or by import from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal.

Habitat

Marine tropical, reef-dwelling species. Depth range 3-300 m, usually 15-25 m.

Size

The maximum recorded total length of this species is 83 centimetres (33 inches), although a length of 75 centimetres (30 inches) is more normal, and the maximum recorded weight is 12 kilograms (26 pounds).

Behavior

Usually found in clear waters less than 15 metres deep, preferring islands and inshore reefs to continental shores. Does not migrate.

Food and feeding habits

The Yellow-edged Lyretail feeds mainly on fish, but also on crabs, shrimps and stomatopods.

Reproduction

Females reach maturity at a standard length of 33 centimetres (13 inches). They have been recorded forming spawning aggregations off the coast of the island of Aceh in Sumatra. It has not yet been confirmed that this species is a protogynous hermaphrodite. They spawn between December and February.

Fishing

The risk of ciguatera poisoning has meant that the species is rarely caught or sold in Japan and some Southeast Asian countries. 

Relationship with a person

It is a valuable food fish. However, there have been reports of ciguatera poisoning, which has led to a ban on the sale of fish weighing more than 1.5kg in Mauritius. It can also be found for sale in aquariums and as live fish food.