Scientific Name
Lutjanus sanguineus

Common Name
Humphead snapper

Biology
Inhabits coral and rocky reefs to depths of at least 100 m (Ref. 30573). Off South Africa it displays a preference for slightly silty, turbid regions in the vicinity of sometimes shallow, offshore banks. Captured mainly at night on coral banks off Mafia Island (Tanzania) in 9 to 12 m and off Zanzibar in about 75 m. Active at night when it feeds over sandy or rubble bottoms (Ref. 9710).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1828

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snappers (Lutjanidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea east to the Arabian Sea and south to Natal, South Africa. Records of this species from the eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Central Pacific are probably misidentifications of Lutjanus malabaricus (Ref. 55). Has been misidentified as Lutjanus coccineus by recent authors.

Range

31°N - 30°S, 30°E - 77°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

9 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 9 - 100 m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

4.49 s.e. 0.77 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

100.0 cm

Common Length

70.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (47 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.24; tm=2.5-6; tmax=13)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated