Common name: blacktail snapper

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Lutjanus fulvus has a moderately large mouth with sharp teeth. Randall (2005) describes the body as pale yellow-white; caudal (tail) fin is emarginate (indented in the center) and reddish black with a narrow white margin; dorsal (back) fin is also reddish with a narrow white margin and a broad black submarginal band. The remaining fins are yellow.

Size: Up to 40 cm total length (Allen 1985)

Native Range: Found in the IndoPacific Ocean from the Red Sea to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, and south to South Africa and New Caledonia (Lieske and Myers 2004).

Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology: Lutjanus fulvus inhabit lagoons and seaward reefs at depths from 1-75 m preferring sheltered areas with deep holes (Myers 1999). At times this species enters mangrove areas and lower reaches of rivers (Myers 1999). The juveniles seek shelter in brackish areas and seagrass beds (Lieske and Myers 2004). Lutjanus fulvus feeds primarily at night on crabs and shrimps in the winter and spring and favors crabs and fishes in the summer and fall (Nanami and Shimose 2013). Spawning occurs at night around the full moon throughout the year (Allen 1985, Myers 1999).

Means of Introduction: Stocked by the Hawaiian Division of Fish and Game in the 1950s (Randall 1987).

Status: Established throughout the Hawaiian archipelago; however, not abundant.

Impact of Introduction: The impacts of this species are currently unknown, as no studies have been done to determine how it has affected ecosystems in the invaded range. The absence of data does not equate to lack of effects. It does, however, mean that research is required to evaluate effects before conclusions can be made.

Remarks: Species of Lutjanus have the potential to cause ciguatera poisoning, a foodborne illness caused by accumulation of the toxin ciguatoxin in the tissues of tropical reef fishes (Rongo et al. 2009).

References: (click for full references)

 

Allen, G.R. 1985. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. Snappers of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lutjanid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(6):208 p. Rome: FAO.

Bishop Museum. 2000. Pearl Harbor Legacy Project. Available at URL http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pdf/PHReport.pdf

Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. 2004. Coral reef guide: Red Sea to Gulf of Aden, South Oman. Harper Collins Publishers Ltd., London.

Maciolek, J.A. 1984. Exotic Fishes in Hawaii and Other Islands of Oceania, p. 131-161, in W.R. Courtaney, Jr. and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. (eds). Distribution, Biology, and Management of Exotic Fishes. John Hopkins Press University Press, Baltimore, MD.

Mundy, B. C. 2005. Checklist of Fishes of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Bishop Museum Bulletins in Zoology, Number 6.

Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: A field guide for divers and aquarists. Coral Graphics, Guam.

Nanami, A. and T. Shimose. 2013. Interspecific differences in prey items in relation to morphological characteristics among four lutjanid species (Lutjanus decussatus, L. fulviflamma, L. fulvus, and L. gibbus). Environmental Biology of Fishes 96:591-602.

Randall, J.E. 1987. Introductions of marine fishes to the Hawaiian Islands. Bulletin of Marine Science 41:490-502.

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Rongo, T., M. Bush, and R. van Woesik. 2009. Did ciguatera prompt the late Holocene Polynesian voyages of discovery? Journal of Biogeography 36:1423-1432.

Schumacher, B. D. and J. D. Parrish. 2005. Spatial relationships between an introduced snapper and native goatfishes on Hawaiian reefs. Biological Invasions 7: 925-933.

Tilmant, J.T. 1999. Management of nonindigenous aquatic fish in the U.S. National Park System. National Park Service. 50 pp.

Other Resources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Lutjanus fulvus

Author: Mary Brown, Pam Fuller, and Pamela J. Schofield

Peer Review Date: 3/12/2006

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.