Yellow snapper
📖 Overview
Found in inshore reef areas over hard bottoms until at least 60 m depth . Tolerant to freshwaters . Form aggregations during daylight and shelter as solitary fish in caverns. Feed on fishes, shrimps, crabs and mollusks. Marketed fresh or frozen .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Forehead slopes steeply; snout somewhat pointed. Preopercular notch and knob weak. Scale rows on back parallel with lateral line. Rosy red anteriorly, becoming bright orange to yellow over most of the body; the fins are mainly yellow or orange; the inside of the mouth is white; a bluish horizontal streak runs below the eye.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Yellow snapper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 60 m . Subtropical; 36°N - 13°S, 120°W - 77°W north of Baja California, Mexico; also at the Cocos and Galapagos islands.
🌿 Ecology
fishes, shrimps, crabs and mollusks
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Yellow 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 | 19.5 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 201 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Yellow snapper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (lean white fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Amarillo Snapper · yellow snapper · yellowtail snapper |
| 🌍CES | chňapal stříbrobřichý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Gul snapper |
| 🇫🇷French | vivaneau jaune |
| 🌍MLG | Menahelika · Tsivaravara |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Caranha-brasa |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Жёлтый луциан · Серебристобрюхий луциан |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Boca colorada · Guachinango · huachinango · Miche · Pargo Alazán · pargo amarillo · Pargo blanco · Pargo coliamarillo · Pargo colorado · Pargo de manglar · Pargo dentón · Pargo dientón · Pargo Flamenco · Pargo mulatillo · Pargo rojo · Pargo rosquero |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 紋眼笛鯛 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hypoplectrus lamprurus | Jordan & Gilbert | 1882 | Heterotypic |
| Mesoprion argentiventris | Peters | 1869 | Synonym |
| Serranus lamprurus | Jordan & Gilbert | 1882 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 160 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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