Two-spot red snapper
📖 Overview
Adults inhabit coral reefs, including sheltered lagoons and outer reefs . Usually found singly, often adjacent to steep outer reef slopes, but occasionally found in groups . Feeds mainly on fishes, but also take shrimps, crabs, amphipods, stomatopods, gastropods and urochordates. Large fish from oceanic areas in the western Pacific are often ciguatoxic, e.g., in Tuvalu . Caught mainly with handlines and bottom longlines . Utilized fresh and dried-salted . Juveniles mimic Chromis damselfishes . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
🔬 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: moderately deep body, its greatest depth 2.4-2.9 in SL; distinct groove or pit from nostrils to the front of the eye; preopercular notch and knob moderately developed; vomerine tooth patch narrow crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-7 + 16 = 22-23 (including rudiments). Colour of body dark reddish-brown with faint dark stripes; young and some adults with two silvery-white spots on back; pectoral fins pink with dorsal edge prominently black; juveniles sometimes have caudal end of body and the tail white. mimicking Chromis damselfishes . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Two-spot red snapper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 180 m , usually 10 - 70 m . Tropical; 31°N - 33°S, 31°E - 128°W East Africa to the Marquesas and Line islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia.
🌿 Ecology
fishes, but also take shrimps, crabs, amphipods, stomatopods, gastropods and urochordates
📐 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
"Two-spot red 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 | 18.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 142 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Two-spot red 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
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diacope labuan | Montrouzier | 1857 | Synonym |
| Diacope quadriguttata | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Lutianus bobar | Forsskål | 1775 | Synonym |
| Lutianus bohar | Forsskål | 1775 | Synonym |
| Lutianus nukuhivae | Seale | 1906 | Synonym |
| Lutjanus coatesi | Whitley | 1934 | Synonym |
| Lutjanus rangus | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion rangus | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion rubens | Macleay | 1882 | Synonym |
| Sciaena bohar | Forsskål | 1775 | Synonym |
| Sparus cynodon | Bloch | 1791 | Synonym |
| Sparus lepisurus | Lacepède | 1802 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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