Scientific Name
Ocyurus chrysurus

Common Name
Yellowtail snapper

Biology
Inhabits coastal waters, mostly around coral reefs. Usually seen well above the bottom, frequently in aggregations. Young individuals are usually found over weed beds. Feeds mainly at night. Feeds on a combination of plankton and benthic animals including fishes, crustaceans, worms, gastropods and cephalopods. Juveniles feed primarily on plankton. Spawning occurs throughout the year, with peaks at different times in different areas. Marketed fresh and frozen. Has been reared in captivity.

Classification

Classified By

Bloch, 1791

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snappers (Lutjanidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: extending northward to Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda and southward to southeastern Brazil, in Gulf of Mexico and Antilles. Most common in the Bahamas, off south Florida and throughout the Caribbean. Lutjanus ambiguus , an intergeneric hybrid with Lutjanus synagris as demonstrated by Loftus , followed by McEachran &. Fechhelm .

Range

45°N - 2°S, 100°W - 42°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

180 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 180 m , usually 10 - 70 m

Trophic Level

3.99 s.e. 0.67 Based on diet studies.

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

86.3 cm

Common Length

40.0 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: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (59 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.10-0.16; tm=2; tmax=14)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30911)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated