Lutjanus fulviflamma


Blackspot snapper LJF
Characteristic features:
Colour:

Pale brown with 6 or 7 yellow stripes on sides, having the axil of pectoral fins without a black spot, and large black spot on lateral line below posterior dorsal fin.

Size:

Up to 35 cm TL.

Distribution:

Indo-West and Central Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Coral reefs, but can also tolerate brackish waters. From the surface to at least 35 m depth.

Biology:

Feeds primarily on fishes, shrimp, crabs and other crustaceans, with smaller individuals preferring crustaceans, and larger individuals preferring fishes. Found in schools and forms large aggregations with other Lutjanus species. Length at maturity is reached at 20.0 and 21.5 cm for females and males respectively.1 Age at maturity is reached at 3 and 3.5 years for females and males respectively.1 Blackspot snapper are a small species with a considerably longer lifespan than some of the larger species, with a recorded maximum age of 23 years.1

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught primarily by surface trolling.

Similar species:

Lutjanus ehrenbergii
Ehrenberg's snapper

Lutjanus ehrenbergii

Lutjanus ehrenbergii differs in having longitudinal scale rows above lateral line mostly horizontal (vs. obliquely positioned); 5 narrow yellow stripes below lateral line (vs. 6 or 7 yellow stripes on side) and an oval black spot below posterior dorsal fin (vs. round black spot below middle of first dorsal fin).

Lutjanus lutjanus
Bigeye snapper

Lutjanus lutjanus

Lutjanus lutjanus differs in having a silvery body with yellow or yellow-brown stripes, one at eye level twice as wide as others (vs. body pale brown with 6 or 7 yellow stripes on sides) and no back spot (vs. an oval black spot below posterior dorsal fin usually present).

Lutjanus monostigma
Onespot snapper

Lutjanus monostigma

Lutjanus monostigma differs in having a vomerine tooth patch without medial posterior extension (vs. with medial posterior extension) and a pinkish grey body without stripes (vs. brown on back grading to white or yellow with 6 or 7 yellow stripes on side).

Lutjanus rufolineatus
Goldenlined snapper

Lutjanus rufolineatus

Lutjanus rufolineatus differs in having a preopercular notch well developed (vs. poorly developed); 10–12 faint yellow stripes on side (vs. 6 or 7 yellow stripes); vomerine tooth patch without posterior medial extension (vs. with medial posterior extension) and a black spot eye-size or smaller sometimes present on lateral line below posterior part of dorsal fin (vs. oval black spot present).

Internal links:
External links:
References:
  1. Loubens, G. Biologie de quelques especes de poissons du lagon Neo-Caledonien. III. Croissance. 1980.