Snapper, Chrysophrys auratus (Forster, 1801)

Scientific name: Chrysophrys auratus
Alternative name/s:
Cockney, Cockney Bream, Nobbler, Old Man, Pink Snapper, Pinkie, Pinky, Queen, Red Bream, Rugger, Schnapper, Tamure, White Snapper
Snapper, Chrysophrys auratus Click to enlarge image
A Snapper at a depth of 18 m, Halifax Sponge Gardens, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Port Stephens, New South Wales, June 2009. Image: David and Leanne Atkinson
© David and Leanne Atkinson

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chrysophrys
    Species
    auratus
    Family
    Sparidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 1.3 m in length and at least 20 kg in weight.

Identification

Snapper are usually pinkish to brown on the upper sides and silvery below. The body is covered by small blue spots that are most obvious in small fish.

Habitat

Larval Snapper occur in open water over the continental shelf and then enter bays and estuaries as juveniles of about 1 cm in length. Adults are found on deeper offshore reefs.

Pagrus auratus
Snapper, Pagrus auratus - jaw
I.30312-017 - Pagrus auratus

Distribution

Snapper occur in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia the species is known from marine waters around the southern half of the country from southern Queensland to the central coast of Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museum. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Life history cycle

Young fish are known as Squires and old fish are called Old Man Snappers. Old fish develop a prominent hump on the top of the head (see x-ray image). The hump develops in both sexes but is more prominent in males. The enlargement of areas of fish bones such as this is known as hyperostosis.

With reference to mature fish with a hump on the head, Graham (1974) stated "When a fisherman lands such a fish he immediately states: "I've caught an old man Snapper" under the erroneous impression it is an old male fish. I have often dissected these "old man" Snappers and found that there were as many female as male fish with this conspicuous bony knob. The name "old man Snapper" comes from the likeness to the face of an old man with bulbous red nose, a short clipped moustache and tight upper lip".

Economic impacts

The Snapper is one of the most popular food fishes in Australia.

Snapper aquaculture has become an important industry in recent years. At Pisces Marine Aquaculture, fish are reared in a 10 m deep, nylon-netted enclosure offshore near Port Stephens, New South Wales. Farmed fish are exposed to more sunlight than wild fish and have a darker colouration. Shading of the enclosure for a time prior to harvesting is being investigated in an attempt to lighten the colour of the fish.

References

  1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544. (as Chrysophrys auratus)
  2. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928. (as Chrysophrys auratus)
  3. Graham, D.H. 1974. A Treasury of New Zealand Fishes. A.H. & A.W. Reed. Pp. 424.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437. (as Chrysophrys auratus)
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
  7. Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.