Scientific Name
Lutjanus argentimaculatus

Common Name
Mangrove red snapper

Biology
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 weigh

Classification

Classified By

Forssk?l, 1775

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snappers (Lutjanidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

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.

Range

32°N - 24°S, 40°E - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

16 °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

120 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 120 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

3.58 s.e. 0.61 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

150 cm

Common Length

80.0 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; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (60 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.19; tmax=18)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31637)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated