Emperor red snapper
📖 Overview
Adults occur in the vicinity of coral or rocky reefs , often over adjacent sand flats and gravel patches . Also trawled in deeper water on relatively flat bottoms. Juveniles are frequently commensal with sea urchins . Juveniles less than 20 cm long are common in near shore, turbid waters , in mangrove areas , or among both coastal and deeper water offshore reefs . Juveniles can also be found swimming amongst the spines of urchins in shallow coastal bays . They move to deeper waters as they grow larger , with large fish often moving into shallower water during the winter months . They form schools of similar-sized individuals or are solitary . Feed on fishes, crabs, stomatopods, other benthic crustaceans and cephalopods. Marketed fresh, dried-salted and frozen . Commercially important but in certain regions of the Indian Ocean, large individuals are known to cause ciguatera poisoning .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10. Dorsal profile of head steeply sloped. Preorbital bone broad. Preopercular notch and knob moderately developed. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Generally red or pink, darker on the back; fins are red except the pectorals which is pink. Juveniles and small adults have a dark red band from first dorsal spine through eye to tip of snout; a 2nd band from mid-dorsal fin to pelvic fin; a 3rd from base of last dorsal spine to caudal peduncle. Large adults become uniformly red . Note: (TL, cm) = 1.00 + 1.24 (SL, cm); n = 828 . Body depth 2.6-3.0 in SL .: short and / or deep; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Emperor red snapper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Emperor red snapper is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Emperor red snappers are broadcast spawners .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 180 m . Tropical; 34°N - 35°S, 30°E - 171°E West Pacific: southern Red Sea and East Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
🌿 Ecology
fishes, crabs, stomatopods, other benthic crustaceans and cephalopods
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Emperor 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 | 18.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 104 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Emperor red snapper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diacope civis | Valenciennes | 1831 | Synonym |
| Diacope sebae | Cuvier | 1816 | Synonym |
| Diacope siamensis | Valenciennes | 1830 | Synonym |
| Genyoroge regia | De Vis | 1884 | Synonym |
| Lutianus sebae | Cuvier | 1816 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 21 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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