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ANIMAL SPECIES:Humpback Snapper, Lutjanus gibbus (Forsskål, 1775)

Identification

The Humpback Snapper has a forked caudal fin (view the fish figure) with rounded lobes. It has a pinkish-grey to red body. The fins are red to dark brown. The soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins have white margins. The iris of the eye is red.

Juveniles look similar to the adults, but are dark brown to black on the soft portion of the dorsal fin, the caudal peduncle and the caudal fin. In very small individuals, there is a dark stripe below the soft portion of the dorsal fin and a black spot on the caudal peduncle.

Size range

Distribution

This fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea, throughout Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Australia, and east to the Tuamoto Islands.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Juveniles are found south to the central coast of New South Wales.

Habitat

Adult Humpback Snapper inhabit deep lagoons and seaward reefs. During the day they form large aggregations. Juveniles are commonly seen in seagrass beds and shallow sheltered reefs.

The species is usually found at depths from 6 m to 30 m. Adults have been recorded down to 150 m.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

The Humpback Snapper feeds at night on shrimps, crabs, lobsters, stomatopods, worms, octopuses, gastropods, sea urchins, sand dollars and small fishes. It spawns at night during the full moon.

Living with us

Economic/social impacts

 Adult Humpback Snapper have caused ciguatera poisoning in the Pacific Islands.

Classification

References

• Allen, G.R. 1985. Snappers of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Lutjanid Species known to Date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. FAO. Rome. Pp. 208, Pl. I-XXVII.
• Allen, G.R. & Talbot, F.H. 1985. Review of the snappers of the genus Lutjanus (Pisces: Lutjanidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with the description of a new species. Indo-Pacific Fishes 11: 1-87 [39].
• Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
• Isbister, G.K. & M.C. Kiernan. 2005. Neurotoxic marine poisoning. The Lancet Neurology. 4(4): 219 - 228.
• Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
• Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.

Last Updated: 10 June 2009

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