Lutjanus argentiventris (Peters, 1869)
Yellow snapper
photo by Kamy Yeung@114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey

Family:  Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Lutjaninae
Max. size:  71 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 13 kg
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 3 - 60 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: southern California to Peru, rare north of Baja California, Mexico; also at the Cocos and Galapagos islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Forehead slopes steeply; snout somewhat pointed. Preopercular notch and knob weak. Scale rows on back parallel with lateral line. Rosy red anteriorly, becoming bright orange to yellow over most of the body; the fins are mainly yellow or orange; the inside of the mouth is white; a bluish horizontal streak runs below the eye.
Biology:  Found in inshore reef areas over hard bottoms until at least 60 m depth (Ref. 9313). Tolerant to freshwaters (Ref. 36880). Form aggregations during daylight and shelter as solitary fish in caverns. Feed on fishes, shrimps, crabs and mollusks. Marketed fresh or frozen (Ref. 9313).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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