Lutjanidae

Snappers
Humpback red snapper, Lutjanus gibbus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Lutjanidae
Genera

Aphareus
Aprion
Apsilus
Etelis
Hemilutjanus
Hoplopagrus
Lipocheilus
Lutjanus
Macolor
Ocyurus
Paracaesio
Pinjalo
Pristipomoides
Randallichthys
Rhomboplites
Symphorus

Snappers are a family of perciform fish, mainly marine but with some members inhabiting estuaries, feeding in freshwater. Some are important food fish. One of the best known is the red snapper.

Snappers inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of all oceans. They can grow to about 1 meter (3.3 ft) in length. Most feed on crustaceans or other fish, though a few are plankton-feeders. They can be kept in aquaria, but mostly grow too fast to be popular aquarium fish. They live at depths reaching 450 meters (1,480 ft).

About 100 species are currently recognized, divided into about 16 genera. A large number of species have "snapper" in their common name; most but not all are Lutjanidae. Nearly all the 60 or so species in genus Lutjanus have common names that include the word "snapper".

Species

Notes

  1. ^ Moura & Lindeman (2007). "A new species of snapper (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from Brazil, with comments on the distribution of Lutjanus griseus and L. apodus". Zootaxa 1422: 31–43. 

References