| Silk snapper | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Lutjanidae |
| Genus: | Lutjanus |
| Species: | L. vivanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lutjanus vivanus (Cuvier, 1828) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
The silk snapper (Lutjanus vivanus), the West Indian snapper, yellow-eyed snapper or yellow-eyed red snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
The silk snapper was first formally described in 1828 as Mesoprion vivanus by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as Martinique. [3] The specific name vivanus is derived from vivaneau and vivanet, the local French names for this species on Martinique possibly originating from vivax, meaning “lively”. [4]
The silk snapper has a moderately deep body with quite a sharp snout, [5] the body has an oblong shape and is laterally compressed. The front and rear nostrils are simple holes. It has a large mouth with an upper jaw which can be protruded, this slips under the cheek bone when the mouth is closed. It has 1-2 rows of conical teeth on each jaw, [6] the front teeth being enlarged into canines. [5] the vomerine teeth are arranged in an anchor shaped patch with a rearwards extension on middle of the roof of the mouth, there is a patch of teeth on each side of the roof of the mouth. [6] There is a deep incision on the lower margin of the preoperculum. The dorsal fin is continuous and has no incision. [5] The dorsal fin has 10-11 spines and 13-14 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 7-8 soft rays. [2] Both these fins are scaled. The pectoral fins are elongate, roughly equal in length to the head in adults. The caudal fin is emarginate. [5] The overall colour is red to pinkish-red, paler on the abdomen. Some individuals are marked with very thin wavy yellow lines on the flank. A feature differentiating this species from similar sympatric congeners is the vivid yellow iris. The fins are reddish although the anal and dorsal fins are tinted with yellow. The caudal fin has a dark margin and the pectoral fins are light yellow pectoral fins. The Juveniles have a black or red spot on the upper flanks just underneath the origin of the dorsal fin. [7]
The silk snapper is a species of the Western Atlantic Ocean. It occurs from North Carolina and Bermuda south through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico south as far as São Paulo, Brazil, including Trindade Island. It is found at depths from 9 to 450 m (30 to 1,476 ft). [1] The silk snapper occurs on the edge of continental and island shelves over substrates of sand, gravel, and coral. The juveniles inhabit shallower waters than the adults. [7]
The silk snapper spends the day in deeper waters, ascending the water column at night to hunt. [2] They are mainly predators of fish but also prey on crabs, isopods, octopus, and shrimp. This species has a maximum longevity as much as 33 years. [7] They spawn over much of the year in lower latitudes, but are spring and summer spawners in the more temperate parts of their range. This species attains sexual maturity in males at 38 cm (15 in) and 50 cm (20 in) in females off Puerto Rico. [1]
The silk snapper is caught by commercial, artisanal and recreational fisheries. Fishers use traps, hook and line and sometimes bottom trawls, especially as bycatch in shrimp fisheries in Mexico. [1] There have been reports of cases of ciguatera poisoning related to the consumption of the flesh of the silk snapper. [2]
The lane snapper, the Mexican snapper, redtail snapper or spot snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean.
The schoolmaster snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. Like other snapper species, it is a popular food fish.
The black and white snapper, the black and white seaperch or black 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.
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.
The vermilion snapper, the clubhead snapper, night snapper, Brian's red fish or beeliner is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean.
Lutjanus adetii, the yellow-banded snapper or hussar, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and is sought after as a game fish.
The dog snapper, also known as the dogtooth snapper, pargue or snuggletooth snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a commercially important species, and is popular for display in public aquaria.
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.
The blackfin snapper, also known as the blackspot snapper, blackfin red snapper, gun-mouth backfin, gun-mouth snapper, redfish and wrenchman is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean. It is a commercially important species, though it has been reported to carry the ciguatera toxin.
The blue-and-gold snapper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean where it is important to local subsistence fisheries.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lutjanus purpureus, the southern red snapper or Caribbean red snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean as well the Caribbean Sea.
Lutjanus endecacanthus, the Guinea snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found on the west coast of Africa in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The golden African snapper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The pygmy snapper is a species of ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean and is only known from fresh and brackish waters.
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.
Lutjanus novemfasciatus, the Pacific dog snapper or Pacific cubera snapper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
