Black and white snapper
📖 Overview
Adults are found on steep outer walls of lagoon, channel and seaward slopes in large schools . Juveniles are solitary . Feeds largely on fishes and crustaceans Caught with handlines, gill nets, and traps, but also speared by divers and are frequently seen in markets and sold mainly fresh .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body relatively deep and laterally compressed, greatest body depth 2.2-2.4 in SL; dorsal profile of head convex in adults, in oblique straight line in young; maxilla without scales or longitudinal ridges; preopercle with a deep notch (or gash) receiving elongate interopercular spine (none for individuals less than 16 cm SL); gill rakers of first gill arch 26-38 + 60-71 = 89-107; soft rays of dorsal fin usually 14, in anal fin 11, in pectoral fin 17; continuous dorsal fin with spinous portion distinctly notched in young; dorsal and anal fins distinctly pointed posteriorly, the soft ray of both fins, shorter than next to last ray; caudal fin rounded with middle rays elongated in small juveniles, slightly notched at intermediate sizes and emarginate in adults; pelvic fins short and rounded for all sizes; soft dorsal and anal fins with scales basally; tubed lateral-line scales 50-55; juveniles with very long pelvic fins. Colour of adults silvery grey, strongly blotched with blackish patches, lacks yellow on head and body and without blue markings on head and body, much duller iris; juveniles with black and white pattern but broader white area encompassing posterior head and adjacent body and with less than 5 white spots on back (Ref 9821, 90102).: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Black and white snapper is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 90 m . Tropical; 36°N - 30°S, 31°E - 153°W East Africa to Samoa, north to central Japan, south to Australia.
🌿 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
"Black and white 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 | 19.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 139 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Black and white 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 and White Seaperch · Black and white snapper · Black Beauty · Black Snapper · Black-and-white Snapper |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Hamrah |
| 🌍CES | chňapal černobílý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Sort og hvid snapper |
| 🇩🇪German | Schwarzer Schnapper · Schwarzweiß-Schnapper |
| 🇫🇷French | Diable · Lutjan Noir · Perche blanche et noire · Perche de minuit noire · Vivaneau plat · Vivaneau Plate |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Azzannatore nero |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Madaratarumi · マダラタルミ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Zwarte Snapper |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Macolor-do-sul |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Чёрный маколор |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Pargo Blanco y Negro · Pargo domino |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 琉球黑毛 · 黑加脊 · 黑加誌 · 黑背笛鯛 · 黑背羽鰓笛鯛 · 黑背羽鳃笛鲷 · 黑雞仔 · 黑體羽鰓笛鯛 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 12 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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