[3] In the past the most frequently used binomial for this taxon was Lethrinus chrysostomus and the binomial L. miniatus was thought to be a synonym of L. olivaceus but in 1991 John Ernest Randall and Alwynne Cooper Wheeler examined the iconotype of Sparus miniatus and found that it was clearly what was then commonly referred to as L.

[4] Some authors place the genus Lethrinus in the monotypic subfamily Lethrininae, with all the other genera of Lethrinidae placed in the Monotaxinae, however, the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise the subfamilies traditionally accepted within the family Lethrinidae as valid.

The family Lethrinidae is classified by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as belonging to the order Spariformes.

Juveniles are found in sea grass beds and mangroves, preferring shallower, coastal waters.

[2] Lethrinus miniatus is a predatory species feeding on crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms and fishes, it diet being mainly crabs and sea urchins.

It is an important commercial species in New Caledonia but it is often discarded there because it has been implicated in cases of ciguatera fish poisoning.