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Diadromous Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish ⚡ Reports of ciguatera poisoning 🌡️ Subtropical

Mangrove red snapper

Lutjanus argentimaculatus Forsskål, 1775
Max Length
150 cm
Max Weight
12.0 kg
Lifespan
31 yrs
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
1–120 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
60.00/100
Typical Length
80 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

A euryhaline species . Juveniles and young adults occur in mangrove estuaries, the lower reaches of freshwater streams and tidal creeks . Adults are often found in groups around coral reefs . Eventually migrate offshore to deeper reef areas, sometimes penetrating to depths in excess of 100 m. Mainly nocturnal, this species feeds mostly on fishes and crustaceans. Excellent food fish . An important market species throughout the Indo-Pacific region, but never found in large quantities. A good aquaculture species because it doesn’t get rancid easily when frozen . It commands a good export market price with no limit on body size . No reported damaging diseases . Found in Hong Kong live fish markets . Caught mainly with handlines, bottom longlines, and trawls; marketed mostly fresh and dried-salted . Maximum length is 104 cm, max weight 14.5 kg and max age 39 years for specimens from the east coast of Australia (pers. comm., Andrew McDougall, 2007).

Scientific Name
Lutjanus argentimaculatus
Authority
Forsskål, 1775
Habitat
Diadromous
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
150 cm
Max Weight
12 kg
Lifespan
31 years
Depth Range
1–120 m
Latitude
35°S – 39°N
Trophic Level
3.6
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
60.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Water Temp
16–30 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

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 2.3 - 2.7 in SL; preopercular notch poorly developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-8 + 9-12 = 16-20 (including rudiments); scale rows on back more or less parallel to lateral line, or parallel below spinous part of dorsal fin and sometimes rising obliquely posteriorly, or rarely with entirely oblique rows. Colour of the body generally greenish brown on back, grading to reddish; belly silvery or whitish (deep water specimens usually overall reddish); juveniles with a series of about 8 white and streaks 2 blue across cheeks .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Mangrove red snapper is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Mangrove red snapper is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
57cm TL

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 1 - 120 m . Subtropical; 16°C - 30°C ; 39°N - 35°S, 26°E - 134°W West Pacific: East Africa to Samoa and the Line Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
3.6±0.5
🌙 Nocturnal

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01514 × L2.96 (TL)
Max TL
150cm
Max Weight
12,000g
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
14
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
8

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
16–30°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
60.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
39°N – 35°S
Described By
Forsskål, 1775

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Mangrove red snapper is an edible species."

✓ Suitable Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • 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
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 19.4 g
Omega-3 (total) 182 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Mangrove red snapper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Amarillo Snapper · Creek Red Bream · Dog Bream · Gray Snapper · Indo-Pacific Mangrove Red Snapper · Mangrove Jack · Mangrove Snapper · Mangrove red snapper · Purple Sea Perch · Purple Sea-perch · Red Bass · Red Bream · Red Perch · Red Reef Bream · Red Snapper · River Roman · Rock Barramundi · Silver snapper · Silver-spotted Gray Snapper · Yellow Snapper · river snapper
🇸🇦Arabic Hamrah · Marjaan · Sheggrah · نهاش المنغروف الأحمر · نهاش رمادي
🌍CES chňapal stříbroskvrnný
🇩🇪German Kupfer-Schnapper
🇫🇮Finnish mangrovenapsija
🇫🇷French Carpe · Rouget · Sarde · Vieille de palétuviers · Vivaneau des mangroves
🇯🇵Japanese Gomafuedai · ゴマフエダイ
🇰🇷Korean 붉은퉁돔
🇵🇹Portuguese Caranha-de-mangue-do-Indo-Pacífico
🇷🇺Russian Красный луциан
🇪🇸Spanish Pargo Amarillo · Pargo Dientón · Pargo Rabo Amarillo · Pargo de Manglar · Pargo de Manglar del Indo Pacífico · Pargo de Mangle · pargo rojo del manglar
🌍THA ปลากะพงแดงปากแม่น้ำ · ปลากะพงแดงป่าชายเลน
🇨🇳Chinese 紅棗魚 · 紅槽 · 紫紅笛鯛 · 紫红笛鲷 · 銀紋笛鯛

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Alphestes gembra Bloch & Schneider 1801 Synonym
Alphestes sambra Bloch & Schneider 1801 Synonym
Diacope superba Castelnau 1878 Synonym
Diacopus superbus Castelnau 1878 Synonym
Lutianus argentimaculatus Forsskål 1775 Synonym
Lutianus jahngarah Day 1875 Synonym
Lutianus salmonoides Gilchrist & Thompson 1908 Synonym
Lutjanus argentimculatus Forsskål 1775 Synonym
Mesoprion flavipinnis Cuvier 1828 Synonym
Mesoprion garretti Günther 1873 Synonym
Mesoprion griseoides Guichenot 1863 Synonym
Mesoprion obscurus Macleay 1881 Synonym
Mesoprion olivaceus Cuvier 1828 Synonym
Mesoprion roseigaster Macleay 1881 Synonym
Mesoprion sexfasciatus Macleay 1883 Synonym
Mesoprion taeniops Valenciennes 1830 Synonym
Perca argentata Bloch & Schneider 1801 Synonym
Sciaena argentata Gmelin 1789 Synonym
Sciaena argentimaculata Forsskål 1775 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 35 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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