| Family: |
Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Lutjaninae |
| Max. size: |
89 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 20 kg; max. reported age: 21 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 5 - 180 m, amphidromous |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts south along U.S. coast, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Records from Brazil are based on misidentifications (Ref. 113893). Records from the eastern Atlantic are vagrants (Ref. 10795). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Dorsal profile of head slightly concave, snout long and pointed. Preopercular notch and knob weak. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line anteriorly, but rising obliquely posteriorly, below soft part of dorsal fin. Young specimens with a dark stripe from snout through the eye to upper opercle and a blue stripe on cheek below eye. |
| Biology: |
Adults inhabit coastal as well as offshore waters around coral reefs, rocky areas, estuaries, mangrove areas, and sometimes in lower reaches of rivers (especially the young). They are found in fresh water in Florida (Ref. 26938). Often forming large aggregations. Feed mainly at night on small fishes, shrimps, crabs, gastropods, cephalopods and some planktonic items. Easily approached (Ref. 9710). Good food fish (Ref. 9626). Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, microwaved, and baked (Ref. 9987). Has been reared in captivity (Ref. 35420). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 October 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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