Colorado snapper
📖 Overview
Adults inhabit inshore reef areas over hard bottoms. Generally solitary . Juveniles are sometimes encountered in shallow coastal waters and estuaries . Carnivorous, feed on invertebrates and fishes . Marketed fresh or frozen .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Preopercular notch and knob weak. Body and fins mostly red; sometimes with a blue streak under the eye. Young specimens are barred.: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Colorado snapper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 70 m . Subtropical; 36°N - 4°N, 90°W - 77°W north of Baja California, Mexico.
🌿 Ecology
invertebrates and fishes (Ref
📐 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
"Colorado 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 | 19.2 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 176 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Colorado 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 | Colorado Snapper |
| 🌍CES | chňapal červený |
| 🇫🇷French | vivaneau amarante |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Caranha-colorada |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Красный луциан · Разноцветный парго |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Huachinango · Pargo jilguero · Pargo lunarejo · Pargueta · Rojo · pargo colorado · pargo rojo |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 科羅拉多笛鯛 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 24 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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