Mahogany snapper
Lutjanus mahogani
(Cuvier, 1828)

Description:
Body oblong-shaped, with a triangular head and a shallow notched tail. Body silvery to white, often with a reddish tinge. Usually with a black spot, about eye size, on the lateral line below the rear dorsal fin. Tail with a reddish margin (L. mahogoni), which may be quite narrow and pale.
Slightly upturned snout with a large mouth and prominent canine teeth near the front of the jaw. The lower jaw projecting slightly beyond the upper jaw.
Size up to 48 cm.

Habitat:
Inhabits clear shallow waters over rocky bottoms in the vicinity of coral reefs, down to 100 m, less frequently in sandy or seagrass areas. Often forms large aggregations during the day. Feeds at night mainly on small fish, shrimps, crabs and cephalopods.

Distribution:
Uncommon Florida, occasional to common Bahamas and Caribbean.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Superclass Pisces
Class Osteichthyes
Family Lutjanidae
Genus Lutjanus
Species Lutjanus mahogani

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Not included in WoRMS database

Scientific synonyms and common names

Mahogany snapper [English]
Vivaneau voyeur [French]
Calala [Papiamentu]
Colulie [Papiamentu]
Kalála [Papiamentu]

Humann, P., 1989. Reef Fish Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Nagelkerken, W., 1980. Coral Reef Fishes of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Published by the Island Territory of Curacao.

Nagelkerken, W.P., 1981. Distribution and ecology of the Groupers (Serranidae) and Snappers (Lutjanidae) of the Netherlands Antilles. Publications of the foundation for scientific research in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles, 107(3).

You can continue searching for Lutjanus mahogani on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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