33 photos - 15 species
Introduction
There are more than 130 species in 21 genera and five subfamilies.
Snappers are one of the most important food fish in the tropics.
Many snapper species are nocturnal,
so fishermen catch them at night using hand lines.
During the day, snappers form large stationary shoals,
which makes them popular with divers.
They grow to between 15 cm and 1.60 metres in length,
depending on the species.
Lethrinus olivaceus
Longface emperor or Long-nosed emperor
Maximum length: 70 - 100 cm
Depth: 1 - 185 m
General: It can be found in large schools in sandy coastal areas,
reef slopes and lagoons.
Very active and fast swimmer.
Photo 1 Johnny: El Quesir Egypt
Lutjanus apodus
Schoolmaster snapper
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 3 - 30 m
Silver to copper-coloured body, often with transverse bands, yellow fins.
Swims individually or in medium-sized schools over the reefs.
Shy, keeps a safe distance
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Photos 2 - 4 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Lutjanus biguttatus
Two-spot banded snapper or Two-spot snapper
Maximum length: 20 cm
Depth: 3 - 70 m
It owes its name to the clearly visible two white spots.
Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives
Lutjanus bohar
Two-spot red snapper, Red bass, Twinspot snapper
or Bohar snapper
Maximum length: 80 cm
Depth: 1 - 70 metres
They are often seen in huge schools on outer reef slopes.
They get their name from the two white spots on the back of the young fish.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: El Quesir Egypt
Cubera snapper or Cuban snapper
Maximum length: 1.5 m
Depth: 20 - 60 m
Bulging lips, back occasionally with pale transverse bands.
Body: Silver - steel grey to dark brown.
Very shy, cannot be approached, only observed or photographed from a distance.
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Lutjanus decussatus
Checkered snapper, Checkered seaperch or Cross-hatched snapper
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 2 - 35 m
Whitish body with bronze-brown longitudinal stripes,
short transverse stripes of the same colour over the back.
A large black spot on the root of the tail.
Photo 1 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Lutjanus ehrenbergii
Blackspot snapper
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 5 - 60 m
Mostly solitary or in small groups.
Post-active, eats mainly fish.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Lutjanus griseus
Mangrove snapper or Gray snapper
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 1 - 20 m
Usually without special characteristics,
occasionally a dark band runs from the lips through the eye.
Pale grey to reddish-brown, olive - bronze - or red-tinged to dark grey,
body can fade or darken, the caudal fin can have a dark edge, the anal fin is rounded.
Swims in small schools, inhabiting shallow coastal regions,
often under docks.
Not shy, you can get very close to them.
Photos 1 - 2 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Lutjanus kasmira
Common bluestripe snapper, Bluestripe snapper, Bluebanded snapper,
Bluestripe sea perch, Fourline snapper, Blue-line snapper
or Moonlighter
Maximum length 35 cm
Depth: 10 - 260 m
Inhabits lagoons and outer reefs.
Shoals are often localised.
Important food fish in the tropics.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Lutjanus mahogoni
Mahogany snapper
Maximum length: 40 cm
Depth: 7 - 20 m
Caudal fin with reddish rear edge.
Silvery to white body with a reddish tinge. Dorsal and anal fins with reddish edges.
Found singly or in small schools over coral reefs.
Shy, swims away when approached.
Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Lutjanus monostigma
One-spot snapper, Onespot seaperch or Moses snapper
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 5 - 60 m
Pastel grey body with yellow fins and a dark spot on the line of the fin,
which can be lost in large adults.
At home on outer reefs, lagoons and in bays singly or in small groups,
often seen in wrecks and on reef edges.
Hunts fish at night.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Lutjanus synagris
Lane snapper, Mexican snapper, Redtail snapper or Spot snapper
Maximum length: 20 - 38 cm
Depth: 2 - 45 m
The picture shows a juvenile.
The adult animal is described.
Silvery body. Pectoral, pelvic and anal fins often yellow,
dorsal and caudal fins often reddish.
Black spot below the rear part of the dorsal fin.
Usually shy, keeps a safe distance.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Macolor macularis
Midnight snapper, Midnight seaperch or Black and white snapper
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 5 - 50 m
The colour changes in the course of development.
Adults have a yellow-golden iris.
Photos 1 - 3 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Macolor niger
Black and white snapper, Black and white seaperch or Black snapper
Maximum length: 66 cm
Depth: 3 - 90 m
Adults often in groups.
It is assumed that these groups disperse at night to feed.
The name black and white snapper comes from the colour pattern of the juvenile.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Photo 3 Astrid: Elphinstone Egypt
Ocyurus chrysurus
Yellowtail snapper
Maximum length: 75 cm
Depth: 3 - 20 m
White to silvery body with a blue tinge.
A bright yellow stripe adorns the centre of the body, the tail is also bright yellow.
May have yellow spots on the upper half of the body.
Swims individually or in small schools over the reefs.
Not shy, often approaches divers.
Photos 1 - 2 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean