Bluestriped snapper
| Bluestriped snapper | |
|---|---|
| |
| 1. Lutianus videns 2. Lutianus notatus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Lutjanidae |
| Genus: | Lutjanus |
| Species: | L. notatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lutjanus notatus (Cuvier, 1828)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
The bluestriped snapper (Lutjanus notatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutjanidae. It is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Taxonomy
[edit]The bluestriped snapper was first formally described in 1828 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as the Indian Ocean.[3] The specific name, notatus, means “marked”, a reference to the black spot which is often visible below the dorsal fin.[4]
Description
[edit]The bluestriped snapper has a relatively deep body which has a standard length that is 2.5 to 2.7 times as long as the body at its deepest point. It has a steeply sloped forehead, and the preopercular incision and knob are well developed. The vomerine teeth are arranged in a crescent shaped patch with no central rearwards extension and there are no teeth on the tongue.[5] The dorsal fin has 11-12 spines and 12-13 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 7-8 soft rays.[2] The rear of the dorsal fin and the anal fin are rounded. The pectoral fins have 15-16 rays and the caudal fin is truncate or weakly emarginate.[5] This fish attains a maximum total length of 25 cm (9.8 in), although 20 cm (7.9 in) is more typical.[2] The head and the part of the back behind the head ate brownish, the flanks are yellow and the abdomen is pale yellowish white. There is a series of 6 thin blue horizontal stripes on the flanks, the highest three sloping upwards towards the base of the dorsal fin. There is a frequently dark spot on the lateral line, similar in size to the pupil, below the front of the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. The fins are mostly yellow.[5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The bluestriped snapper is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean. It has been recorded from South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius and Réunion.[1] It has been recorded from India.[citation needed] The adults are found over coral reefs.[2] They are found at depths between 10 and 50 m (33 and 164 ft).[1]
Biology
[edit]The bluestriped snapper is normally a solitary species but it has been known to form small schools of 5-10 individuals. It is a predatory fish which feeds on other fishes and benthic invertebrates.[2]
Fisheries
[edit]The bluestriped snapper is fished for by artisanal fisheries wherever it occurs, however, only small quantities are observed in local markets They are taken with handlines, traps and gill nets.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Collen, B.; Richman, N.; Beresford, A.; Chenery, A.; Ram, M.; et al. (Sampled Red List Index Coordinating Team) (2010). "Lutjanus notatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T154742A4623236. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T154742A4623236.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Lutjanus notatus". FishBase. February 2021 version.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Lutjanus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (5 January 2021). "Order LUTJANIFORMES: Families HAEMULIDAE and LUTJANIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Gerald R. Allen (1985). FAO species catalogue Vol.6. Snappers of the world An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lutjanid species known to date (PDF). FAO Rome. p. 107. ISBN 92-5-102321-2.