Lutjanus mizenkoi Allen & Talbot, 1985
Samoan snapper
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Lutjaninae
Max. size:  32 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 150 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: known only from Samoa and Indonesia (Sulawesi).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Appears bright yellow underwater (Ref. 48635). Dorsal profile of head gently sloped. Preorbital bone narrower than eye diameter. Preopercular notch and knob poorly developed. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Back and sides reddish, grading to pink; the ventral portion of the head and body white; a series of faint, yellow horizontal lines on the sides; fins whitish or yellow. Juveniles are relatively slender and similar in shape to L. vitta (Ref. 48635).
Biology:  Adults inhabit offshore reefs. Also deep coastal muddy reef slopes with reef outcrops and often on shipwrecks in depth over 20 m. Seen singly or in small aggregations (Ref. 48635). Occasionally seen at depths of 10-20 m (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.