Lutjanus timoriensis

Osteichthyes Lutjanidae Genus Lutjanus Lutjanus timoriensis

Timor snapper LWT

19.5 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Overall reddish; sometimes with oblique rows of reddish brown lines; silvery below; fins reddish; axil of pectoral fin black. Juveniles with broad black band from upper jaw to anterior dorsal fin and a black saddle with a white border on caudal peduncle.

Size:

Up to 50 cm TL.

Distribution:

East Indian and West Pacific in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Adults inhabit coral and rubble reefs, from 30 to at least 150 m depth. Juveniles are found on muddy coastal slopes and open sandy areas.

Biology:

Diet is unknown. Timor snapper are usually solitary, but are occasionally found in groups. In the waters of Papua New Guinea, length at first maturity is 30 cm and 12 cm FL for females and males respectively.1 Timor snapper display batch spawning. Maximum age for this species is unknown.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught mainly with deep handlines and occasionally trawled.

Similar species:

Lutjanus bitaeniatus
Indonesian snapper

Lutjanus malabaricus differs from juvenile Lutjanus timoriensis (under 10 cm SL) in having no black spot at axil of pectoral fin (vs. black spot).

to Lutjanus bitaeniatus

Lutjanus malabaricus
Malabar snapper

Lutjanus bitaeniatus differs in having preorbital space greater than eye diameter (vs. preorbital space relatively narrow, slightly less than eye diameter); posterior profile of dorsal and anal fins rounded (vs. pointed) and tongue with teeth (vs. tongue smooth, teeth absent).

to Lutjanus malabaricus

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM

References:

1.
Longenecker K, Langston R, Bolick H, Kondio U. Reproduction, catch, and size structure of exploited reef-fishes at Kamiali Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea. Honolulu-Hawaii: Bishop Museum Technical Report [Internet]. 2011; Available from: https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.5071.7683