Silk snapper (Lutjanus vivanus)

Scientific name: Lutjanus vivanus Cuvier, 1828

The Silk snapper (Lutjanus vivanus) is a marine fish of the family Lutjanidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, North Carolina, USA and Bermuda to S?o Paulo, Brazil. Most abundant around the Antilles and the Bahamas.

Biology

This species is common near the edge of the continental and island shelves; also found in deeper waters (below 200 m); usually ascending to shallow water at night. Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps, crabs, gastropods, cephalopods, tunicates and some pelagic items including urochordates. Marketed fresh. Said to be a good food fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Lutjanus vivanus
Family: Lutjanidae (Snappers)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 83.0
Common length: 45.0
Depth range: 90–242 m (295–794 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 90 - 242 m, usually 90 - 140 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and Bermuda to S?o Paulo, Brazil. Most abundant around the Antilles and the Bahamas.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.09-0.32; tm=5)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026