Description: Body wide and relatively thick with a sloping forehead and a large round eye and large terminal mouth. Dorsal-fin base long and anal-fin base short. Prominent dorsal, anal, and pelvic-fin spines and a large non-serrated preopercular spine.
Diagnosis: Modal fin-ray counts of D-X,14 A-III,8 are shared among most of the regional Lutjanus species, including L. analis, L. apodus, L. cyanopterus, L. griseus, L. jocu and the deep-water snappers L. buccanella, L. campechanus, and L. vivanus. Juvenile L. griseus have a prominent dark stripe through the eye, a dark striped body and no lateral spot. (DNA)
Pretransitional mostly-unmarked stage, usually from 10-13 mm SL: Body: Pretransitional larvae have two patches of melanophores on the body below the dorsal fin: under the last two dorsal-fin spines and first dorsal-fin soft rays and then under the middle of the soft dorsal fin. There is a band of surface melanophores along the anterior half of the dorsal midline of the caudal peduncle and full-length along the ventral midline of the caudal peduncle, extending forward and ending just before a single large melanophore underlying the pterygiophores of the last anal-fin rays. A patch of surface melanophores develops on the caudal peduncle filling in progressively from ventral to dorsal in a mostly uniform pattern, without a distinct clear bar anteriorly on the lower half of the caudal peduncle. There are a few deep melanophores at the end of the lateral midline of the caudal peduncle. Head: Melanophores on the head consist of a patch overlying the brain and on the surface braincase and around the tip of the upper jaw; at the tip of the lower jaw there are either no melanophores or distinctly fewer than at the tip of the upper jaw. The opercular area is covered in iridescence extending down to the pelvic-fin insertion. The inner cleithral surface of the gill cavity is speckled with large melanophores and there are internal melanophores lining the dorsal aspect of the peritoneum extending down to the vent and overlain by a silvery camouflage layer. Fin Spines: The dorsal and anal-fin spines are relatively stout, with prominent internal reticulations. There are fine serrations along the anterior aspect of the anal and dorsal-fin spines at this stage, typically persisting into transition in this species. Fins: Melanophores on the dorsal-fin membranes are concentrated between the third and eighth spines, present on the dorsal midline at the base of the membrane and extending halfway or two-thirds up the membranes. The dorsal-midline melanophores are often present from the second to the tenth dorsal-fin spine bases. On the anal fin, there are melanophores on the lower half of the membranes between the anal-fin spines and about half-way up the second anal-fin spine. They continue on the lower half of the membrane between the last spine and the first ray and the next membrane, followed by melanophores only at the base of the membrane for the next few rays. Melanophores are concentrated below the pterygiophores of the last two or three rays (often as one conspicuous large melanophore) where they join the row along the ventral midline of the caudal peduncle. There are often a few melanophores along the proximal portion of the segmented caudal-fin rays in two places: between the bases of the lower-central rays and along the lowest two or three rays, the latter often extending in a line out along the rays. Pretransitional analogues: Pretransitional larvae (mostly-unmarked stage, usually from 10-13 mm SL) are separated from many other Lutjanus by having distinct serrations persisting on the anterior profile of the anal and dorsal-fin spines (but shared by L. apodus and L. jocu). The L. griseus larval type is distinguished from the L. apodus and L. jocu types at this stage by having the spinous-dorsal-fin melanophores mostly on the proximal two-thirds of the membranes with some touching the dorsal midline around the insertion of the spines (vs. melanophores concentrated on the distal portion of the membranes and sparing the dorsal midline at the base of most of the dorsal-fin spines). Additional features separating lightly marked L. griseus from L. apodus are a more uniform melanophore scattering on the lower caudal peduncle (vs. concentrating as a bar at the posterior half), melanophores along the anterior half of the dorsal midline of the caudal peduncle (vs. a short line usually less than a third of the peduncle length), more melanophores on the tip of the upper than lower jaws, and relatively lightly or unmarked lower head and pelvic fins (even on heavier-marked larvae).
Transitional stage: Transitional larvae of L. griseus develop a relatively uniform scattering of melanophores on the body, usually with some indistinct light bars on the upper side of the body. The lower half of the caudal peduncle is uniformly speckled. Melanophores extend from the dorsal midline out to about two-thirds of the spinous-dorsal-fin membranes. A distinct stripe extends from the eye forward to the tip of the upper jaw and two stripes develop behind the eye and diverge. The tip of the lower jaw, the ventral half of the head and the pelvic fins are lightly speckled in most transitional larvae. Transitional recruits are mostly uniformly speckled; when indistinct bars are present they fade out on the lower body, especially near the anal fin. Many show a pattern of large blotchy melanophores over a finer speckling. The large melanophores disappear in small juveniles and are replaced by a pattern of stripes. Transitional analogues: Transitional L. griseus larvae tend to have a relatively uniform scattering of melanophores on the body with no lateral spot, distinguishing them from the other spotted or barred species. Furthermore, transitional L. griseus larvae usually retain anterior serrations on the anal-fin spines separating them from most other snappers (except some L. apodus and L. jocu). Some transitional L. griseus may have indistinct bars, but these are typically limited to the upper half of the body vs. obvious full-body bars in larval L. apodus and L. analis. Especially on early-transitional stages, L. griseus have a lightly-marked lower jaw and head below the level of the eye (vs. often heavily spotted in the latter species), and pelvic fins mostly unpigmented (vs. covered in melanophores). The other uniformly-marked transitional snappers comprise L. jocu and L. cyanopterus. Transitional L. cyanopterus have a quite different body shape with a narrower and longer body and a wider caudal peduncle (relative to body depth). Transitional recruits of L. jocu can appear quite similar to transitional L. griseus, but in L. jocu the thin indistinct light bars persist without any development of body stripes and the body is more finely speckled.
Juveniles: Juvenile L. griseus are overall dusky with a prominent dark stripe through the eye and a pattern of thin parallel dark lines across the body, most distinctly below the lateral line. The stripes are characteristically made up of rows of individual dark-spotted scales. Some individuals show an indistinct bar pattern, but it is limited to the upper half of the body. Juvenile analogues: L. griseus juveniles lack the lateral spot of many other snapper juveniles and do not show the prominent bars of juvenile L. apodus. They are wider-bodied with a narrower caudal peduncle than juvenile L. cyanopterus. L. griseus juveniles can appear similar to some of the more uniformly-marked early juvenile L. apodus and L. jocu, however the thin dark stripes on the side of the body and the dark stripe through the eye intensify in L. griseus, while in juvenile L. jocu the dark stripe through the eye becomes less prominent and the blue line below the eye intensifies and juvenile L. apodus rapidly develop prominent bars.
The mangrove snapper or gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) is a species of snapper native to the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean Sea. The species can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including brackish and fresh waters. It is commercially important and is sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.[3]
Its color is typically greyish red, but can change color from bright red to copper red. It has a dark stripe running across its eye if observed from the top when it is under water. This species can reach a length of 89 cm (35 in), though most do not exceed 40 cm (16 in). The greatest recorded weight for this species is 20 kg (44 lb).[3]
The mangrove snapper can be confused with the cubera snapper or black snapper, L. cyanopterus. Mangrove snapper are typically much smaller than cubera, but when they are of similar size, the two species can only be distinguished by examining the tooth patch on the inside roof of the mouth. Many specimens caught in Florida, specifically Punta Gorda, are actually misidentified dogtooth or dog snapper, L. jocu. The best way to distinguish between the two species is the dog snapper has a lighter triangle of color with a blue band under the eye and large, and sharp fangs in the front (canines), hence its common name. These fangs can deliver a painful bite, even in a small fish. The mangrove snapper feeds mostly on small fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods and gastropods.[4] It was also observed as systematically waiting under a maternal colony of buffy flower bats, for falling bats near the entrances of Lucayan cavern, Bahamas.[5]
The mangrove snapper is one of the most common species of snapper in warmer regions. It can be found in many areas from canals to grass flats, as well as in open water. Mangrove snapper also prefer structure, such as docks, mangroves, shipwrecks, and debris. Most mangrove snapper in the open water are generally found near bottom structure or reefs. They can be found at depths from 5 to 180 m (16 to 591 ft), though are mostly found at less than 50 m (160 ft).[3]
Mangrove snapper are common targets for anglers, and are highly prized for their light and flaky flesh. They can be found year around and are often found in the mangroves, and around docks or other structures. They are easy to catch, which makes fishing for them ideal for beginner anglers. In addition, they are usually found in schools, so catching many in a short time is not uncommon. They are relatively strong for their size, and they put up a good fight when hooked. They can be caught on a variety of baits, but are typically caught with live or frozen shrimp, squid, pilchards, mullet, ballyhoo, pinfish, and occasionally on artificial lures or baits. They can be spearfished, as well, but are sometimes a tough target, as they tend to be more wary of divers, rather than curious, and their wariness of baits and divers tends to increase as the fish grow larger. Most mangrove snapper are caught on light to medium tackle, and typical catches range from 8 to 14 in long (0.5-2.0 lb) in shallow or in-shore waters, and up to 20 in long (about 5 lb) in deeper waters. Larger fish are uncommon, but not rare.
The species is farmed in offshore floating fish farms in Asia and Oceania; one example is the floating fish farms off Pulau Ubin Island, Singapore, and along the southwest side along the Singapore strait.[6] Farmed for consumption, they are sold to restaurants and supermarkets in Singapore and around the world.
The mangrove snapper or gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) is a species of snapper native to the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean Sea. The species can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including brackish and fresh waters. It is commercially important and is sought as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
