COLORATION:

Summary:

Back and sides pink to reddish, with a greenish or olivaceous tinge, and a large dark blotch centered above lateral line in the area below the anterior soft dorsal rays. Diffuse vertical bars visible in some. Sides of body with a series of 8 to 10 pinkish, yellowish, or coppery longitudinal stripes. Belly and lower sides silvery with a yellowish tinge. Head with 3 or 4 yellow or golden longitudinal stripes, the upper running from snout to eye. Lips red, maxillary yellowish, tongue yellowish, eye red. Dorsal fin reddish, with yellowish margins; spinous portion nearly transparent. Pectoral fins usually pinkish to reddish. Pelvic fins and anal fin yellowish. Caudal fin pinkish to red with black margin. Back and sides pink to reddish, with a greenish or olivaceous tinge and a large dark blotch centered above lateral line in the area below the anterior soft dorsal rays. Diffuse vertical bars visible in some. Sides of body with a series of 8 to 10 pinkish, yellowish, or coppery longitudinal stripes. Belly and lower sides silvery with a yellowish tinge. Head with 3 or 4 yellow or golden longitudinal stripes, the upper running from snout to eye. Lips red, maxillary yellowish, tongue yellowish, eye red. Dorsal fin reddish, with yellowish margins; spinous portion nearly transparent. Pectoral fins usually pinkish to reddish. Pelvic fins and anal fin yellowish. Caudal fin pinkish to red with black margin."

Literature:

References to Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus, 1758): Jordan and Evermann 1898: Page 1251 (as Neomaenis synagris) ( key ) - "Pectoral long, chiefly red; a large black lateral blotch..." "Color rosy greenish above, sides of head and body with numerous longitudinal stripes of golden yellow; soft dorsal and caudal red; lower fins yellow. Page 1270 ( text ) - "Color in life, rose -colored, silvery tinged below, slightly olivaceous but not dark above; a large, round, maroon blotch, larger than eye, just above lateral line and below front of sort dorsal, always present; series of stripes of deep golden-yellow along sides; 3 on head, the upper from snout through eye; about 10 on body, the lower nearly straight and horizontal, the upper undulating and irregular, extending upward and backward; belly white, its sides largely yellowish; lips red; maxillary partly yellow; tongue yellowish; iris fiery red; caudal deep blood-red; spinous dorsal nearly transparent, with a marginal and basal band of golden; soft dorsal light red, edged with golden; ventrals and anal golden; pectorals pinkish. Young quite green above. Similarly striped Cuban specimens are generally duller, with the yellow stripes decidedly coppery. In spirits the bright colors fade, only the lateral blotch and the streaks on the head being persistent." Boschung et al. 1983: Page 607 (text ) - "...pinkish above with green tinge and, when resting, diffuse dusky bars; silvery with yellow tinge below, 8 or 10 yellow or golden stripes on body, 3-4 on head." "...black spot between lateral line and anterior soft dorsal rays..." "...outer margins of dorsal, anal and pelvic fins yellow; caudal fin light red." Allen 1985: Page 49 ( key ) - "...a black spot below anterior soft dorsal rays, persisting throughout life " "Less than 1/4 or none of black lateral spot extending below lateral line in specimens larger than about 6 cm standard length..." " Page 120 (text ) - "Colour: back and upper side pink to reddish, with a green tinge and diffuse darker vertical bars; lower sides and belly silvery with a yellow tinge; a series of 8 to 10 horizontal yellow or golden stripes on sides and 3 or 4 irregular stripes of similar colour on head; a diffuse black spot, eye-sized or larger, just above lateral line ( touching it ), below anterior dorsal soft rays; fins yellowish to reddish." Robins and Ray 1986: Page 172 (text ) - "Large, round, dark spot on side, located below soft dorsal fin and centered distinctly i>above lateral line. Body olive to tan above; silvery below. A series of parallel, yellow nd pinkish stripes on side. Some individuals have narrow pale bars above, yellowish or reddish ars below. Dorsal and caudal fins reddish; rear edge of caudal fin black, especially towards enter. Pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins yellowish." Plate 31 (caption) - "Spot centered above lateral ine. Anal fin rounded. Yellow and pink stripes. Caudal fin black edged.

References to genus Lutjanus: Allen 1985: Page 33 (text ) - "Colour: extremely variable, but often consisting of a reddish, yellow, grey, or brown background and a pattern of darker stripes or bars; frequently with a large blackish spot on upper sides below anterior dorsal soft rays."

References to subfamily Lutjaninae: None recorded.

References to family Lutjanidae: Eschmeyer and Herald 1983: Page 215 (text ) - "Color varies: mostly yellow, red, and blue; often striped, barred or blotched." Robins and Ray 1986: Page 167 (text ) - "Snappers from deeper, rocky slopes are usually red. Reef types are tan and yellow, often with some red. Many species have a dark blotch below soft dorsal fin, roughly a lateral line, or a blue stripe along snout and below eye; some species have both markings." "The dark spot and blue stripe noted above, if present, also are diagnostic "" Plate 31 (caption ) - "Species from deeper water usually red. Many with dark blotch on side and blue line below eye. Moyle and Cech 1988: Page 293 (text ) - "Most are brightly colored, ranging from bright red to yellow to iridescent blue, often with contrasting stripes and bars."