Blacktail snapper
📖 Overview
Adults inhabit lagoon and semi-protected seaward reefs . They prefer sheltered areas with deep holes or large boulders . Benthopelagic . Solitary or in loose aggregations . Juveniles sometimes found in shallow mangrove swamps and the lower parts of freshwater streams. Adults feed at night on fishes, shrimps, crabs, holothurians and cephalopods . Commonly seen in markets, usually fresh. Caught with handlines, traps, and gill nets. This fish sometimes causes ciguatera poisoning, particularly in the Pacific portion of its range . Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 9773.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body with greatest depth 2.3-2.8 in SL; preopercular notch and knob well developed; vomerine tooth patch crescentic, without a medial posterior extension; tongue smooth, without teeth; gill rakers of first gill arch 6-7 + 10-14 = 16-20 (including rudiments); caudal fin slightly emarginate; scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Colour of back and sides tan, grey to brownish, sides usually with a series of narrow yellow of golden-brown stripes, 1 per scale rows, caudal fin blackish, dorsal and caudal fins with a narrow white border; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins yellowish, and a broad yellow rim around posterior eye . : fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Blacktail snapper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 80 m . Tropical; 20°C - 28°C; 34°N - 34°S, 28°E - 134°W East Africa to the Marquesas and Line islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 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
"Blacktail 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 | 18.6 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 147 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Blacktail 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 | Black-tail Snapper · Blacktail Snapper · Blacktailed Snapper · Flametail Snapper · Redmargined Seaperch · Silver snapper · Taiva · Waigeu Snapper · Yellow Striped Snapper · Yellow-margined Sea Perch · Yellow-margined Sea-perch · Yellow-margined Snapper, Blacktail snapper · flame-colored snapper · yellow margined sea perch · Yellow-margined Seaperch · Yellowmargined Sea Perch · Yellowmargined Seaperch |
| 🌍CES | chňapal černoocasý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Sorthalet snapper |
| 🇩🇪German | Schwarzschwanz-Schnapper |
| 🇫🇷French | Dorade de Palétuvier · Dorade de palétuvier, Lutjan fauve · Lutjan Fauve · Lutjan à queue noire · Perche à bordures jaunes · Vivaneau queue noire |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Lutiano coda nera |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Okifuedai · オキフエダイ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Caranha-de-margem-preta |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Тамбак · Чернохвостый луциан |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Pargo colinegra · Pargo rabo negro |
| 🌍TAH | to'au |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 焦黃笛鯛 · 焦黄笛鲷 · 石機仔 · 紅公眉 · 赤筆仔 · 黃足笛鯛 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diacope analis | Valenciennes | 1830 | Synonym |
| Diacope aurantiaca | Valenciennes | 1830 | Synonym |
| Diacope flavipes | Valenciennes | 1830 | Synonym |
| Diacope immaculata | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Diacope marginata | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Diacope vaigiensis | Quoy & Gaimard | 1824 | Synonym |
| Diacope xanthopus | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Genyoroge nigricauda | De Vis | 1884 | Synonym |
| Holocentrus fulvus | Forster | 1801 | Synonym |
| Lutianus fulvus | Forster | 1801 | Synonym |
| Lutianus marginatoides | Kendall & Goldsborough | 1911 | Synonym |
| Lutianus vaigiensis | Quoy & Gaimard | 1824 | Synonym |
| Lutjanus marginatus | Cuvier | 1828 | Synonym |
| Lutjanus vaigiensis | Quoy & Gaimard | 1824 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion argenteus | Hombron & Jacquinot | 1853 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion gaimardi | Bleeker | 1859 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion kagoshimana | Döderlein | 1883 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion marginipinnis | Macleay | 1883 | Synonym |
| Mesoprion maus | Montrouzier | 1857 | Synonym |
| Serranus limbatus | Valenciennes | 1828 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 32 records indexed .
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