Snappers inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of all the oceans.  They can grow to about 1 meter (3.3 feet) in length.  Most feed on crustaceans, other invertebrates, or fish.  Some feed on plankton.

Click the arrow symbol under each fish for more information.


Lutjanus monostigma, One-spot Snapper
    • Max length 50 cm, common length 45 cm. Max reported age 18 years
    • Dorsal profile of head steeply sloped. Preorbital bone much wider than eye diameter. Scale rows on back rising obliquely, both above and below the lateral line
    • Generally with a black dot on the body. Fins are yellow, or frequently brown to blackish. The soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins have white margins. Juveniles have a large, round, black spot at the base of the caudal fin
    • Mainly inhabit coral reefs, sometimes forming large aggregations, mostly stationary during the day. Depth 1-150 m
    • Feed on fishes and a variety of invertebrates
    • Have been reports of ciguatera poisoning
    • Medium resilience, minimum population doubling time 1.4 – 4.4 years

Litjanus gibbus, Humpback Red Snapper
        • Max length 50 cm, common length 45 cm. Max reported age 18 years
        • Dorsal profile of head steeply sloped. Preorbital bone broad, much wider than eye diameter. Scale rows on back rising both above and below the lateral line
        • Generally red or gray, darker on back and upper portion of the head, with orange hue on the lower part of the opercle and in the pectoral axil. Fins are red or brown to blackish. The soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins have white margins. Juveniles have a large, round, black spot at the base of the caudal fin
        • Mainly inhabit coral reefs, sometimes forming large aggregations, mostly stationary during the day. Depth 1-150 m
        • Feed on fishes and a variety of invertebrates
        • Have been reports of ciguatera poisoning
        • Medium resilience, minimum population doubling time 1.4 – 4.4 years