Atlantic emperor

Lethrinus atlanticus has a dorsal fin which is supported by 10 spines and 9 soft rays while anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 soft rays. It has a body with a standard length that is between 2.5 and 2.8 times its depth. The dorsal profile of the head is almost straight or weakly convex near the eye. The snout is pointed with a rather steep, straight profile. All the teeth in the sides of the jaws are conical. There are no scales on the cheeks. The pectoral fin has no scales in its axil. The overall colour is olive green or brown and pink, the cheek has a lattice pattern underneath the eye. This species has a maximum published total length of 50 cm (20 in), although 30 cm (12 in) is more typical.

Lethrinus atlanticus is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean where it occurs in Cape Verde and along the western coast of Africa between Senegal and Angola, including São Tomé and Príncipe. This species is found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries.