Yellow snapper

Yellow snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris) is a saltwater, brackish species recorded in the United States. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 3–60 m.

Scientific name: Lutjanus argentiventris · Water: Saltwater, Brackish

Size: up to 71 cm

About

The yellow snapper is a lutjanid found in inshore reef areas over hard bottoms down to at least 60 m, and it is tolerant of fresh water. It forms aggregations during daylight and shelters as solitary fish in caverns, and it feeds on fishes, shrimps, crabs and mollusks; it is marketed fresh or frozen. It is recorded from 3 to 60 m, and it also enters brackish water. Its range is the eastern Pacific, from southern California to Peru, rare north of Baja California and also found at the Cocos and Galapagos islands. Maximum length is about 71 cm total length, and it matures at about 19.5 cm. It is a commercial species, an experimental aquaculture species and a gamefish, with a low price category. Fishing vulnerability is high at 56 of 100 and resilience low, and climate vulnerability is very high at 80 of 100. IUCN lists it as least concern.

Ecology and habitat

Bottom / habitat
Reef
Depth
3–60 m
Distribution status
Native
Trophic level
4.0

Fishery and market

Game fish
Yes
Market price
Low
Resilience
Low

Methods

Sources

Back to home · United States · Species library