Lutjanus fulgens (Valenciennes, 1830)
Golden African snapper
Lutjanus fulgens
photo by Rodrigues, N.V.

Family:  Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Lutjaninae
Max. size:  60 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range - 60 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: primarily between Senegal and Nigeria, and in the Gulf of Guinea; also Cape Verde (Ref. 55), Fernando Poo and others (Ref. 10795).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Head blunt, snout short, much shorter than eye diameter. Eye very large. Preorbital bone narrow, its width less than half of the eye diameter. Maxilla extending to about mid-eye level. Preopercular notch and knob weak. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Scale rows in cheek 5. Back and sides vivid pink; silvery white on lower sides and belly; with horizontal golden bands, one per scale row.
Biology:  Adults occur on rocky bottoms (Ref. 2683). Also found in deeper offshore waters. Feed on fishes and crustaceans.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 31 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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