Scientific Name
Lutjanus cyanopterus

Common Name
Cubera snapper

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Mouth with thick lips. Preopercular notch and knob weak. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Back and sides pale to dark gray with a reddish tinge. The dorsal and caudal fins are grayish; the anal and pelvic fins reddish; the pectoral fins translucent or grayish.

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1828

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snappers (Lutjanidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia and Bermuda (Anderson, pers. comm.) to mouths of the Amazon, Brazil. Rare north of Florida and apparently rare in the Gulf of Mexico.

Range

35°N - 2°S, 100°W - 46°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

18 m

Depth To - meters

55 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 18 - 55 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

4.22 s.e. 0.73 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

160 cm

Common Length

90.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (65 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 55)

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU) (A2d)