African forktail snapper
Apsilus fuscus
Lane Snapper
Lutjanus synagris
About
The lane snapper is a common reef fish with a pink-red back and a scattering of yellow stripes on its head. It grows up to 60 cm, though most divers see fish closer to 25 cm.
Also known as: godbless, mexican snapper, moonlight grunt, pot snapper, redfish, redtailed snapper, spot snapper, walliacke
- Length
- 25 cm · max 60 cm
- Weight
- max 3.5 kg
- Depth
- 21–70 m
How to tell it apart
Other reef snappers can look similar, but check for the head stripes described above; plain-headed lookalikes lack them.
Appearance
This fish has an oblong, flattened body with a sharply pointed snout and a fairly large mouth. Its back and upper flanks are pink to red with a greenish tint, while the lower flanks and belly are silver with a yellow tone. Three or four yellow stripes run across the head.
Habitat
Lane snapper live over reefs and sandy bottoms with algae or seagrass, from about 10 to 400 m deep, though most stay between 21 and 70 m. Young fish shelter in sheltered inshore waters before moving out as adults.
Breeding
Lane snapper gather in spawning aggregations at certain times of year and release eggs and sperm into open water. The fertilised eggs drift with the current and hatch after about a day.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
