Lethrinus harak (Forsskål in Niebuhr 1775) —Thumbprint emperor, blackspot emperor

Status at New Ireland. First recorded from Carteret Harbour, Lambom, New Ireland as Lethrinus azureus by Valenciennes [ex Quoy & Gaimard] in Cuvier & Valenciennes (1830b: 300), based on MNHN 9087. First recorded from New Hanover by Peters (1877: 834). Specimens observed by Jeff Kinch during CFMDP Survey at Kavieng fish market in 2004–2005, and by Barry C. Russell on 14 June 2014.

Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 1, 2, 3.—General distribution: Red Sea, East Africa, Madagascar and Mascarenes east to Marshall Islands, Samoa and Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to Timor Sea (Western Australia), New South Wales (Australia) and New Caledonia. Found on various soft substrates associated with coral reefs, 1–20 m depth. Marine.