Common bluestripe snapper

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Common bluestripe snapper
Lutjanus kasmira 01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Lutjanidae
Genus: Lutjanus
Species:
L. kasmira
Binomial name
Lutjanus kasmira
(Forsskål, 1775)
Lutjanus kasmira distribution.PNG
Distribution of the bluestripe snapper
Synonyms [2]
  • Sciaena kasmiraForsskål, 1775
  • Diacope octolineata G. Cuvier, 1828
  • Mesoprion etaape Lesson, 1830
  • Perca lineata Gronow, 1854
  • Mesoprion pomacanthus Bleeker, 1855

The common bluestripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira), bluestripe snapper, bluebanded snapper, bluestripe sea perch, fourline snapper, blue-line snapper or moonlighter, is a species of snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean from the coast of Africa and the Red Sea to the central Pacific Ocean. It is commercially important and sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Contents

Taxonomy

The common bluestripe snapper was first formally described in 1775 as Sciaena kasmira with no type locality given but it is considered likely to be the Red Sea. [3] FishBase attributes the species description to the Finnish-born Swedish-speaking explorer and naturalist Peter Forsskål [2] but the Catalog of Fishes attributes as follows

“ Fabricius [J. C.] in Niebuhr (ex Forsskål) 1775:46, xi [Descriptiones animalium (Forsskål)”

Catalog of Fishes then states that the valid binomial is Lutjanus kasmira (Fabricius, 1775). [3]

The specific name kasmira is the Arabic word used for this fish in the Red Sea. [4]

Description

The body is moderately deep in profile, with the dorsal profile of the head steeply sloped, having a well-developed preopercular notch and knob. Identifying morphological features include the number of gill rakers on lower limb of the first arch, which number 13 or 14, with the total rakers on the first arch numbering 20 to 22. The dorsal fin consists of 10 spines anterior to 14 or 15 soft rays, while the anal fin has three spines and seven or eight soft rays. The pectoral fins have 15 or 16 rays, with the caudal fin being slightly emarginate. The row of scales on the back rise obliquely above the lateral line, which contains 48 to 51 scales. [5] This species can reach a length of 40 cm (16 in), though most do not exceed 25 cm (9.8 in). [2]

The color is probably the most diagnostic feature of the fish, especially when alive or fresh from the water. The back and sides of the fish are bright yellow, with the lower sides and underside of head fading to white. Four bright-blue stripes run longitudinally on the side of the fish, with several faint greyish stripes on lowermost part of sides. Most fins are yellow. [5]

Range and habitat

A school of bluestripe snappers at Komodo, Indonesia A school of blue-striped snappers at Manta Alley.JPG
A school of bluestripe snappers at Komodo, Indonesia
A school of bluestripe snappers in the Maldives Lutjanus kasmira school.jpg
A school of bluestripe snappers in the Maldives

The bluestripe snapper is one of the most widespread species of the Lutjanidae, ranging from the coast of Egypt bordering the Red Sea, south to Madagascar and east to India, China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and a number of Pacific islands. [6]

Like many snappers, it inhabits coral reefs, occurring in both shallow lagoons and on outer reef slopes to depths of at least 60 m (200 ft), at depths reaching 180 m (590 ft) at the Marquesas Islands and 265 m (869 ft) in the Red Sea. In Hawaii, they spend some time over seagrasses and sandy substrates. [7] They frequently gather in large aggregations around coral formations, caves, or wrecks during daylight hours. [5]

The preferred habitat of the species changes with age, with young fish schooling on sandy substrates, while larger fish are more solitary, and inhabit deep reefs. [2]

Ecology

The bluestripe snapper is part of an unusual mimicry relationship with the goatfish, Mulloidichthys mimicus, the colouration of which nearly exactly matches that of the snapper. The goatfish school alongside the snapper, with this behavior attributed to predatory protection. The goatfish are presumably a more preferred prey than bluestripe snapper. [8]

Diet

The bluestripe snapper has a varied diet, feeding on fishes, shrimp, crabs, stomatopods, cephalopods and planktonic crustaceans, as well as plant and algal materials. Diets vary with age, location, and the prevalent prey items available locally. [5]

Reproduction

The bluestripe snapper reaches sexual maturity at 20 to 25 cm (7.9 to 9.8 in). Spawning occurs throughout most of the year in lower latitudes, with peak activity reported for November and December in the Andaman Sea. Its eggs measure from 0.78 to 0.85 mm (0.031 to 0.033 in) in diameter and hatch when temperatures reach 22 to 25 °C (72 to 77 °F). [5]

Relationship to humans

Introduction to Hawaii

Bluestripe snappers occupying a cave in Hawaii Kasmira snapper.JPG
Bluestripe snappers occupying a cave in Hawaii

In the 1950s, investigators from the Hawaii's Division of Fish and Game conducted marine fauna surveys and found the Hawaiian ichthyofauna was dominated by herbivorous fishes, which they concluded were "a useless end in the food chain". [9] Unlike many Pacific islands, Hawaii lacked any fish from the Serranidae or Lutjanidae families, so to increase recreational and commercial food fishing opportunities, and fill a perceived 'vacant ecological niche', collections of 11 species of snappers and groupers were imported from Mexico, Kiribati, the Marquesas Islands, and Moorea, and introduced to Hawaii. [10] Only three species thrived, dominated by the bluestripe snapper, now occupying many of the Hawaiian Islands. [11]

In the following years, fishers and ecologists raised concerns that the snapper would outcompete other fish for space and food, as well as prey upon them; scientific investigation has not found evidence to support these claims. Snapper may be competitively dominant over native yellow-fin goatfish, Mulloidichthys vanicolensis, for sheltering space on the reef. [10] This is likely only the case in situations where both are present in high densities.

A parasitic nematode, Spirocamallanus istiblenni, may have been introduced to Hawaiian waters when the fish were released. The addition of this parasite may have affected native fishes, which may not have been subject to the species before the introduction of L. kasmira. [12]

The species has also failed to become important as a food fish and commercial resource for the islands because of low market prices. Since it competes with more commercially valuable fish, most fishers view it as a pest. Since 2008, Hawaii has conducted a series of spearfishing contests that targeted bluestripes, along with blue-spotted groupers and black tail snappers with the intent of removing these fish from Hawaiian waters. [13]

Commercial fishery

The bluestripe snapper is commonly taken throughout its range by handlines, traps, and gill nets. It is usually marketed fresh, and is common in the markets of many countries. It is one of the principal species in the Hawaiian handline fishery, [14] but as noted above, it fetches low prices at market. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goatfish</span> Family of fishes

The goatfishes are fish of the family Mullidae, the only family in the order Mulliformes. The family is also sometimes referred to as the red mullets, which also refers more narrowly to the genus Mullus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangrove red snapper</span> Species of fish

The mangrove red snapper, also known as mangrove jack, grey snapper, creek red bream, Stuart evader, dog bream, purple sea perch, red bream, red perch, red reef bream, river roman, or rock barramundi, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It has a wide Indo-Pacific range and has recently been recorded in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigeye snapper</span> Species of fish

The bigeye snapper, also known as the bigeye seaperch, red sea lined snapper, golden striped snapper, rosy snapper, yellow snapper, or simply snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is the type species of the genus Lutjanus.

<i>Pristipomoides filamentosus</i> Species of fish

Pristipomoides filamentosus, the crimson jobfish, rosy snapper, bluespot jobfish, crimson snapper, king emperor, king snapper or rosy jobfish, is a species of ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean and in the Pacific Ocean as far east as Hawaii and Tahiti. This species is very important to local commercial fisheries and is sought out as a game fish--one of the Deep Seven species of Hawai'i.

<i>Lutjanus</i> Genus of fishes

Lutjanus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, snappers belonging to the family Lutjanidae. They are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. They are predatory fish usually found in tropical and subtropical reefs, and mangrove forests. This genus also includes two species that only occur in fresh and brackish waters.

<i>Lutjanus agennes</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus agennes, the African red snapper, Guinean snapper or African cubera snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lutjanidae, the snappers. It is native to the coastal Atlantic waters of Africa.

<i>Lutjanus bohar</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus bohar, the two-spot red snapper, the red bass, twinspot snapper or bohar snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Lutjanus quinquelineatus</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus quinquelineatus, the five-lined snapper, blue-striped snapper, blue-banded sea-perch, five-lined seaperch or gold-striped sea-perch, is a species of ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humpback red snapper</span> Species of fish

The humpback red snapper, the paddletail, paddletail snapper or hunchback snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It has a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution. It is a commercially important species, as well as being sought after as a game fish. It is also a popular species for display in public aquaria. It has been reported to cause ciguatera poisoning.

<i>Lutjanus fulviflamma</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus fulviflamma, the dory snapper, blackspot snapper, black-spot sea perch, finger-mark bream, long-spot snapper, Moses perch or red bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lutjanidae, the snappers. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Lutjanus rivulatus</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus rivulatus, the blubberlip snapper, Maori snapper, blue-spotted seaperch, Maori bream, Maori seaperch, multi-coloured snapper, scribbled snapper, speckled snapper or yellowfin snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean and into the Pacific Ocean.

<i>Lutjanus russellii</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus russellii, Russell's snapper, Moses snapper, fingermark bream, Moses seaperch or Russell's sea-perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Lutjanus madras</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus madras, the Indian snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

<i>Lutjanus fulvus</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus fulvus, the blacktail snapper, flametail snapper, redmargined seaperch, Waigeu snapper or yellowmargined sea perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Indo-West Pacific region. It is an important species for fisheries within its range.

<i>Lutjanus erythropterus</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus erythropterus, the crimson snapper, crimson seaperch, high-brow sea-perch, Longman's sea perch, red bream, saddle-tailed perch, small-mouth nannygai or smallmouth sea perch is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

<i>Lutjanus vitta</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus vitta, the brownstripe red snapper, brownstripe snapper, broadband seaperch, brownstripe seaperch, one-band sea-perch, one-lined snapper or striped seaperch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

<i>Lutjanus decussatus</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus decussatus, the checkered snapper, checkered seaperch or cross-hatched snapper, is a species marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

<i>Lutjanus carponotatus</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus carponotatus, the Spanish flag snapper, stripey snapper, dusky-striped sea-perch, gold-banded sea perch, gold-stripe sea-perch, striped seaperch or stripey seaperch, is a species marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, from India to northern Australia.

<i>Lutjanus monostigma</i> Species of fish

Lutjanus monostigma, the one-spot snapper, onespot seaperch or Moses snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluestriped snapper</span> Species of fish

The bluestriped snapper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean.

References

  1. ↑ Russell, B.; Lawrence, A.; Myers, R.; Carpenter, K.E.; Smith-Vaniz, W.F. (2016). "Lutjanus kasmira". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T194337A2314753. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T194337A2314753.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Lutjanus kasmira" in FishBase. February 2021 version.
  3. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Lutjanus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  4. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (5 January 2021). "Order LUTJANIFORMES: Families HAEMULIDAE and LUTJANIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Allen, G. R. (1985). FAO Species Catalogue Vol. 6: Snappers of the World; An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Lutjanid Species Known to Date. Rome: FAO. p. 207. ISBN   92-5-102321-2.
  6. ↑ Carpenter, Kent E.; Volker H. Niem, eds. (2001). FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae) (PDF). Rome: FAO. p. 3308. ISBN   92-5-104587-9.
  7. ↑ Friedlander, M. A.; J. D. Parrish; R. C. DeFelice (2002). "Ecology of the introduced snapper Lutjanus kasmiva (Forsskal) in the reef fish assemblage of a Hawaiian bay". Journal of Fish Biology. 60 (1): 28–48. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2002.tb02386.x.
  8. ↑ Randall, J. E.; P. Gueze (1980). "The goatfish Mulloidichthys mimicus n. sp. (Pisces, Mullidae) from Oceania, a mimic of the snapper Lutjanus kasmira (Pisces, Lutjanidae)". Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Section A Zoologie Biologie et Ecologie Animales. 2 (2): 603–609. ISSN   0181-0626.
  9. ↑ R. K. Kanayama & M. Takata (1972). Introduction of marine game fishes from areas in the Pacific. Job 1 (Study XII) of Statewide Dingell-Johnson program. Project F-9-2 to the State of Hawai’i DFG.
  10. 1 2 Schumacher, B. D.; J. D. Parrish (2005). "Spatial relationships between an introduced snapper and native goatfishes on Hawaiian reefs". Biological Invasions. 7 (6): 925–933. doi:10.1007/s10530-004-2983-6. ISSN   1387-3547.
  11. ↑ Coles, S. L.; DeFelice, R. C.; Eldredge, L. G. (2002). "Nonindigenous marine species at Waikiki and Hawai'i Kai, O'ahu, Hawai'i. Final report" (PDF). Bishop Museum Technical Reports. 25: 1–245.
  12. ↑ Font, William F.; Rigby, Mark C. (2000). "Implications of a new Hawaiian host record from blue-lined snappers Lutjanus kasmira: is the nematode Spirocamallanus istiblenni native or introduced?". Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 64: 53–56. ISSN   0893-1348.
  13. ↑ "Divers take bite out of invasive predatory fish". Maui News. August 17, 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  14. ↑ Ralston, S.; Polovina, J. J. (1982). "A multi-species analysis of the commercial deep sea hand.line fishery in Hawaii, USA". Fishery Bulletin. 80 (3): 435–448. ISSN   0090-0656.
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