Order : Perciformes
Family : LUTJANIDAE
Species : Lutjanus fulvus
Maximum Length : 40 cm

Lutjanus fulvus, whose English names include Blacktail Snapper and Yellow-margined Seaperch, is a widespread species of tropical coral reef habitats.

A detailed study at Ishigaki Island, southern Japan, clearly documented how juveniles occurred in mangrove habitat, where they could grow in relative safety, while subadults and adults occurred in areas dominated by coral reefs (Nakamura et al, 2008).

Subadults and adults are nocturnal in habits: by day they lie concealed within reef hollows, small caves or crannies, and only emerge at night to feed. They consume a variety of prey including smaller fishes, prawns, crabs and, reportedly, sea cucumbers.

Lutjanus fulvus can be identified by its pale colour, and its yellow pectoral, pelvic and anal fins, and a dark tail fin with a pale rim. Its eyes have a bright yellow rim.

This species occurs widely in Indo-Pacific waters, ranging from East Africa through the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia to the western and central Pacific Ocean.

Fig 1 : Example from a sheltered coral lagoon at Bora Bora, French Polynesia.


References :

Nakamura, Y., Horinouchi, M., Shibuno, T., Tanaka, Y., Miyajima, T., Koike, I., ... & Sano, M. (2008). Evidence of ontogenetic migration from mangroves to coral reefs by black-tail snapper Lutjanus fulvus: stable isotope approach. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 355, 257-266.


Links :

Fishbase - Lutjanus fulvus