Schoolmaster snapper
📖 Overview
Adults occur in shallow, clear, warm, coastal waters over coral reefs. Often near the shelter of elkhorn corals and gorgonians . Juveniles are encountered over sand bottoms with or without seagrass (Thalassia), and over muddy bottoms of lagoons or mangrove areas. Young sometimes enter brackish waters. Sometimes form resting aggregations during the day. Feed on fishes, shrimps, crabs, worms, gastropods and cephalopods. Considered a good food fish, it is marketed fresh or frozen . Maximum length for female taken from Ref. 3093.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Snout long and pointed, mouth large. One of the upper pairs of canine teeth notably enlarged, visible when mouth is close. Preopercular notch and knob weak. Pectoral fins long, reaching the level of anus. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line, at least anteriorly. Olive gray to brownish on upper back and sides, with eight narrow, pale vertical bars which may be faint or absent in large adults. A solid or broken blue line which may disappear with growth, runs under the eye.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Schoolmaster snapper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Schoolmaster snapper is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 63 m . Subtropical; 42°N - 19°S, 98°W - 31°W north to Massachusetts, USA (rare in Florida) and south to Trinidad and northern Brazil.
🌿 Ecology
fishes, shrimps, crabs, worms, gastropods and cephalopods
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Schoolmaster snapper is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.6 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 210 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Schoolmaster snapper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Dog Teeth Snapper · Dogtooth Snapper · Sarde · Schoolmaster · Schoolmaster snapper · Schooly · Yellow Snapper |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | عصموديّ سَنَّة الكلب |
| 🌍CES | chňapal žlutoploutvý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Spidssnudet snapper |
| 🇩🇪German | Schulmeister-Schnapper |
| 🇫🇷French | Pagre Dentchien · Pagre dentchien, Sarde dents-de-chien · Parque · Parque, Sarde dents-de-chien · Sarde Dents-de-chien · Sarde jaune · Vivaneau dent-chien · Sarde |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Baarsje · Berslag |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Lucjan panek |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Caranha · Caranha-caribenha · Carapitinga · Dentão · Mulata · Pargo-mulato · Vermelho |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Луциан-кахи · Морской адвокат · Чёрный юрист · луциан-хахи · наставник |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Caji · Cajisote · Maestro · Pargo · Pargo Común · Pargo Cotorro · Pargo chino · Pargo mulato · Pargo rubio · pargo amarillo · pargo canchix |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 八帶笛鯛 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodianus albostriatus | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Bodianus fasciatus | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Bodianus striatus | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Holocentrus albostriatum | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Lutjanus acutirostris | Desmarest | 1823 | Synonym |
| Lutjanus caxi | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion canis | Buettikofer | 1890 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion caxis | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion cynodon | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion flavescens | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion linea | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Neomaneis apodus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Perca apoda | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Sparus caxis | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 125 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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