Common names from other countries
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Lutjanidae (Snappers) > Lutjaninae
Etymology: Lutjanus: Malay, ikan lutjan, name of a fish.
More on author: Forsskål.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 150 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 35°N - 33°S, 31°E - 134°W (Ref. 55)
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 21.5 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 56.8 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 125599); common length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450); max. published weight: 2.8 kg (Ref. 125599); max. reported age: 24 years (Ref. 107770)
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep; greatest depth 2.2-2.5 in SL; preopercular notch and knob well developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; gill rakers of first gill arch 9-10 + 115-20 = 25-30 (including rudiments); caudal fin distinctly forked with rounded lobes. Colour red to greyish, an orange hue on lower part of opercle and in pectoral fin axil; fins red (pectoral fins) or usually dark brown to blackish; soft part of dorsal fin, anal and caudal fins with a narrow white margin; juveniles with a large round black spot at base of caudal fin (Ref. 9821, 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
Adults mainly inhabit coral reefs, sometimes forming large aggregations, which are mostly stationary during the day. Juveniles occur in seagrass beds, also in mixed sand and coral habitats of shallow sheltered reefs (Ref. 1602). Sub-adults commonly form very large schools that are stationary or drift slowly along slopes during the day. Large individuals along coastal slopes at moderate depths (Ref. 48635). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on fishes, and a variety of invertebrates including shrimps, crabs, lobsters, stomatopods, cephalopods, echinoderms and ophiuroids (Ref. 55). Caught mainly with handlines, traps, and gill nets. Commonly sold fresh. Sometimes causes ciguatera poisoning, particularly around the Pacific islands (Ref. 9821).
Off East Africa spawning occurs mainly during spring and summer.
Allen, G.R., 1985. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. Snappers of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lutjanid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(6):208 p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 55)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 9710)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
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