Scubareefing

Dive into the Seas and Oceans

Marine Life Identification

Snapper, any of about 105 species of fishes of the family Lutjanidae (order Perciformes). Snappers are found, often in abundance, throughout the tropics. 

Active, schooling fishes with elongated bodies, large mouths, sharp canine teeth, and blunt or forked tails, snappers are usually rather large, many attaining a length of 60–90 centimetres (2–3 feet). They are carnivores and prey on crustaceans and other fishes.

Snappers are valuable and well-regarded food fishes. Some, however, such as the dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) of the Atlantic, may contain a toxic substance and cause ciguatera, a form of poisoning.

 The better known species of snapper include the emperor snapper (L. sebae), a red and white Indo-Pacific fish; the gray, or mangrove, snapper (L. griseus), a gray, reddish, or greenish Atlantic fish; the yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), a swift-moving Atlantic species with a broad, yellow stripe from the nose to the wholly yellow tail; and the red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), a bright-red fish (one of several red-coloured snappers) famed as food and found in rather deep Atlantic waters.

The bluefish, of the family Pomatomidae, is also sometimes called a snapper.

Fusiliers are members of the Caesionidae family. They are distributed in the Indo-West Pacific water. They are marine fishes that inhabit mostly on coral reefs and occur near the surface to depths of 60 m. The fusiliers can be recognized by their protractile small mouth and deeply forked caudal fin. Their appearance are closely related to Paracaesio genus in the snappers family.

Fusiliers feed by picking zooplankton. They occur in large schools in mid-water over the reef, along steep outer reef slopes and around deep lagoon pinnacles. More than one species can be found together in a school. They are active swimmers during daytime and shelter within the reef at night.

There are 4 genera and about 22 species of Caesionidae worldwide. Malaysia has all 4 genera and about 15 species.

The Emperor Angelfish is a species of marine angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Austral Islands.

An adult emperor angelfish has a dark stripe across its eye area. The stripe resembles a mask and is meant to confuse predators. Its body is vibrantly colored, with alternating stripes in blue and yellow. However, a juvenile looks so different from an adult that it was once believed to be a different type of angelfish. Its body is dark blue with white and electric blue rings.

Male emperor angelfish are territorial, and they will defend their living space, as well as the few females they share it with. This area can be as large as 10,760 square feet. The males are so territorial that they may even attack other male emperor angelfish who try to enter their living space.

Did You Know?
Both males and females change color during courtship and mating.

Diet
It is omnivorous, eating both small invertebrates and plants. It prefers sponges and algae.

Size
Up to 15 inches long.

Range
Coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, have been reported off the coast of Hawaii.

Population Status
Least Concern on IUCN Red List.

Predators
Not noted in reputable sources, but presumably larger fish, sharks, marine mammals.



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