Scientific Name
Lutjanus griseus

Common Name
Grey snapper

Biology
Inhabit coastal as well as offshore waters. Found around coral reefs, rocky areas, estuaries, mangrove areas, and sometimes in lower reaches of rivers (especially the young). Found in fresh water in Florida (Ref. 26938). Often forming large aggregations. Feed mainly at night on small fishes, shrimps, crabs, gastropods, cephalopods and some planktonic items. Easily approached (Ref. 9710). Good food fish (Ref. 9626). Utilized fresh and frozen; eaten pan-fried, broiled, microwaved, and baked (Ref. 9987). Has been reared in captivity (Ref. 35420).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snappers (Lutjanidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda southward to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including West Indies (Anderson, pers. comm.), Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea (Ref. 9626).

Range

41°N - 6°S, 100°W - 36°W

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

180 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 55); depth range 5 - 180 m (Ref. 55), usually ? - 50 m (Ref. 9626)

Trophic Level

4.25 s.e. 0.75 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

89.0 cm

Common Length

40.0 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: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.10; tm=2-3; tmax=21)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31172)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated