Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Lutjanidae (Snappers) > Lutjaninae
Etymology: Lutjanus: Malay, ikan lutjan, name of a fish.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 120 m (Ref. 9710). Subtropical; 16°C - 30°C (Ref. 2060); 32°N - 24°S, 40°E - 180°E (Ref. 54571)
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 57.0  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 150 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3678); common length : 80.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55); max. published weight: 8.7 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 31 years (Ref. 82366)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 10;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 13-14;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 7 - 8. Preopercular notch and knob poorly developed. Scale rows on back more or less parallel to lateral line, or parallel below spinous part of dorsal fin and sometimes rising obliquely posteriorly, or rarely with entirely oblique rows. Generally greenish brown on back, grading to reddish on sides and ventral parts. Trawl specimens from deep water frequently are reddish with dark scale centers and white scale margins, giving a reticulated appearance. Juveniles with a series of about eight whitish bars crossing sides, and 1 or 2 blue lines across cheek. L. argentimaculatus distinguished from the L. bohar by its longer snout and truncate tail and more bronze to greenish coloration (Ref. 37816).
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Samoa and the Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia. Has dispersed into the eastern Mediterranean (off Lebanon) via the Suez Canal but not well established there.
A euryhaline species (Ref. 12743). Juveniles and young adults occur in mangrove estuaries, the lower reaches of freshwater streams (Ref. 30573, 48635, 44894) and tidal creeks (Ref. 44894). Adults are often found in groups around coral reefs (Ref. 9710). Eventually migrate offshore to deeper reef areas, sometimes penetrating to depths in excess of 100 m. Mainly nocturnal, this species feeds mostly on fishes and crustaceans. Excellent food fish (Ref. 5484, 44894). An important market species throughout the Indo-Pacific region, but never found in large quantities. A good aquaculture species because it doesn’t get rancid easily when frozen (Ref. 47992). It commands a good export market price with no limit on body size (Ref. 47992). No reported damaging diseases (Ref. 47992). Found in Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253). Max length is 104 cm, max weight 14.5 kg and max age 39 years for specimens from the east coast of Australia (pers. comm., Andrew McDougall, 2007).
Allen, G.R., 1985. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. Snappers of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lutjanid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(6):208 p. Rome: FAO.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31637)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01510 (-0.01775 - 0.04794), b=2.97 (2.96 - 2.99), based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.6 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.19; tmax=18).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (60 of 100) .