- Classification
- ACTINOPTERYGII
- PERCIFORMES
- LUVARIDAE
- Luvarus
- imperialis
Louvar, Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque 1810
Other Names: Loo, Luvaru, Silver King
Louvar, Luvarus imperialis. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A large rare oceanic fish with a large bulging forehead, and a stout elongate-oval body tapering to a narrow tail base. The eyes are positioned low on the head, behind the small mouth in adults. The Louvar is metallic bluish-grey with a pinkish-orange tinge, especially on the belly, and pinkish-orange fins. Juveniles are covered in black spots.
Video of a Louvar that had been caught on hook and line.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Luvarus imperialis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 27 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1048
Louvar, Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque 1810
More Info
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Distribution |
Scattered localities from off Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, to eastern and western Tasmania, and off Rottnest Island, Western Australia; also off the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, and off Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species occurs in the Indo-Pacific, with scattered records in the Atlantic. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 11-14; Anal fin 13-15; Pectoral fin 17-20; Gill rakers 4-6 + 11-14; Vertebrae 10 + 12-13 = 22-23. Adults lack teeth, pelvic fins, and dorsal- and anal-fin spines. In juveniles, the median fins are longer and further forward, and the mouth is toothed. |
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Feeding |
Feeds mostly on gelatinous planktonic animals such as jellyfishes and ctenophores. |
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Biology |
The sexes are separate, and females produce millions of small pelagic eggs It was estimated that one individual measuring 170 cm contained 47.5 million eggs. |
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Fisheries |
Although rare and taken only as bycatch, the Louvar is a highly-prized food fish. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin imperialis (= of the empire or emperor). |
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Species Citation |
Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque 1810, Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante della Sicilia: 22. Type locality: Sicily, Mediterranean. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Louvar, Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque 1810
References
Bannikov, A.F. & Tyler, J.C. 1995. Phylogenetic revision of the fish families Luvaridae and †Kushlukiidae (Acanthuroidei), with a new genus and two new species of Eocene luvarids. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 81: 1-45.
Collette, B.B. 2015. Luvarus imperialis (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T190116A115308008. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T190116A15572470.en. Accessed on 19 February 2022.
Decamps, P. 1986. Luvaridae. p. 998-999. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen & E. Tortonese (eds) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Volume 2. Unesco, Paris.
Gotshall, D.W. & Fitch, J.E. 1968. The louvar Luvaris imperialis in the eastern Pacific, with notes on its life history. Copeia 1968(1): 181-183.
Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.
Johnson, G.D. & A.C. Gill. in Paxton, J.R. & W.N. Eschmeyer (Eds). 1994. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Sydney: New South Wales University Press; San Diego: Academic Press. 240 pp.
Matarese, A.C., Kendall, A.W., Blood, D.M. & Vinter, M.V. 1989. Laboratory guide to early life history stages of Northeast Pacific fishes. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 80 :1-652.
Pepperell, J. 2010. Fishes of the Open Ocean a Natural History & Illustrated Guide. Sydney : University of New South Wales Press Ltd 266 pp.
Pollard, J. (ed.) 1980. G.P. Whitley's Handbook of Australian Fishes. North Sydney : Jack Pollard Publishing Pty Ltd 629 pp.
Rafinesque, C.S. 1810. Caratteri di alcuni Nouvi Generi e Nouve Specie di Animali e Piante della Sicilia con varie Osservazioni sopra i Medesimi. Palermo 105 pp. 20 pls.
Tyler, J.C., G.D. Johnson, I. Nakamura & B.B. Collette, 1989. Morphology of Luvarus imperialis (Luvaridae), with a phylogenetic analysis of the Acanthuridae (Pisces). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 485. Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, D.C. 78 pp. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.485
Whitley, G. 1940. The Second Occurrence of a Rare Fish (Luvarus) in Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 20(5): 325-326.
Winterbottom, R. 1993. Myological Evidence for the Phylogeny of Recent Genera of Surgeonfishes (Percomorpha, Acanthuridae), with Comments on the Acanthuroidei. Copeia 1993(1): 21-39.
