Scientific Name
Symphorichthys spilurus

Common Name
Sailfin snapper

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-18; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11. Preorbital bone broader than eye. Preopercular notch and knob absent. Mouth reaching below front of eye. Anterior soft rays of dorsal and anal fins produced into long filaments. Pectoral fin long, reaching level of anus. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Juveniles light brown above and white below with broad black stripe along middle of sides.

Classification

Classified By

G?nther, 1874

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snappers (Lutjanidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands to New Caledonia and the Great Barrier Reef, including New Guinea, Sulawesi (Celebes), Admiralty Islands, Palau, and Philippines. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797). Also known from eastern Indian Ocean from Rowley Shoals and off Broome, Western Australia.

Range

31°N - 31°S, 98°E - 171°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

60 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 60 m

Trophic Level

3.8 s.e. 0.56 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

60.0 cm

Common Length

50.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (39 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated