SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lutjanus purpureus Poey, 1867

MARKET NAME: Snapper

COMMON NAME: Caribbean red snapper. See literature references.

NON-ENGLISH AND VERNACULAR NAMES: Colorado, Pargo colorado, Pargo real, Pargo rojo, Rouge, Sarde rouge, Southern red snapper, Vermelho, Vivaneau rouge. See literature references.

ORIGINAL REFERENCE: as Lutjanus purpureus Poey, 1867, Rep. Fisico-nat. Isla de Cuba, 2: 157 [Type locality: Cuba].

SYNONYMS: Neomaenis vivanus (Cuvier and Valenciennes)[sic], in part, Jordan & Evermann, 1898. [NOTE: Jordan and Evermann treat L. purpureus as a junior synonym of "Neomaenis" vivanus (= L. vivanus). Their description of L. vivanus, as indicated by their reference to the yellow iris, is almost certainly based on a specimen of L. vivanus rather than one of L. purpureus]. See literature references.

NAMED SUBSPECIES: N/A.

DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES: Coloration: Back and upper side distinctly red; lower sides and belly rosy, with a silver sheen. Fins mainly red. A small dark spot is sometimes present at upper pectoral fin base. Iris of live, fresh, or freshly preserved specimens red. Young with a rounded black spot, about equal to or larger than eye, on upper side below anterior dorsal soft rays. This spot disappears with growth, and is not typically evident in specimens over 30 cm in standard length. See literature references.

Morphology:

Size - Maximum total length about 100 cm; common to 65 cm. See literature references.

Shape - Perchlike or basslike in genral form. Body moderately deep, oblong, moderately compressed, with the back somewhat elevated. See literature references.

Head - Head relatively short (fitting about 2.5 to 3.0 times into standard length), naked above, except for a more-or-less isolated broad band of scales extending obliquely on each side of nape, and with its dorsal profile somewhat rounded between eyes. Upper and lower profiles of head unequal, upper profile sloped, and lower profile flattened. Interorbital space convex. Snout short and blunt. Nostrils normally close together, without tubular projections. Mouth large, protractile, terminal. Rear of upper jaw (maxilla) fits into a suborbital groove, and is partially hidden, when mouth is closed). Eye large (less than 5.6 times in head length), and closer to upper profile of head (its lower edge generally above an imaginary line drawn from the snout tip to the middle of the caudal fin base). Suborbital width 6 to 7% of standard length. Preopercle finely serrate on posterior margin, with, at most, a shallow posterior emargination. Fewer than 20 gill rakers (including rudiments) on lower limb of first arch; these short. See literature references and illustration.

Dentition - Teeth on jaws sharp,conical, in few rows; outer teeth in each jaw larger than inner teeth, and 2 to 4 stronger teeth or canines in front of upper jaw. Anterior part of roof of mouth (vomer) with a patch of small villiform teeth; these arranged in a V-shaped or crescentic patch, with a relatively short medial posterior extension. Villiform teeth also present on the palatines, and usually one or more patches of teeth on the tongue in the adult. No molar teeth, no teeth on pterygoids, and none on the ectopterygoids. See literature references.

Osteology - Prefrontals with posterior areas impressed, long and cribriform; articular facets arising from diverging V-shaped ridges; frontal narrowed anteriorly; fronto-occipital crest ceasing well before anterior margin of frontal, usually behind eye..." "Preopercle weakly emarginate, not deeply notched, and finely serrate on posterior margin. Maxilla slides under suborbital rim when mouth is closed. Basisphenoid with an anterior lobiform extension. Branchiostegal rays 7; number of vertebrae 24. See literature references.

Dorsal fin - The dorsal fin is single and continuous, the first half being spinous. Dorsal spines 10 (rarely 11), soft rays 13 to 15 (usually 14). Soft rays with moderately wide sheath of scales at base; anterior and posterior soft rays not elongate or produced into filaments, anterior rays not significantly taller than posterior rays. See literature references and illustration.

Anal fin - Anal fin pointed in specimens over 5 cm length, with 3 spines and 8 (rarely 9) soft rays. Middle rays produced, the longest almost half to greater than half the length of the head. Anterior rays never produced into filaments, and posterior rays not elongated. See literature references and illlustration.

Pectoral fins - Pectoral fins long, reaching level of anus, with 17 rays. See literature references and illustration.

Pelvic fins - Allen (1985) reports the pelvic fin length to be 53 to 62% of the standard length. See literature references and illustration.

Caudal fin - Caudal fin deeply emarginate, the upper lobe slightly longer that the lower. See literature references and illustration.

Lateral line - Lateral line with 49 to 53 (usually 50 or 51) scales, which extend onto the caudal fin base, but not to its edge. See literature references and illustration.

Scalation - Small ctenoid scales cover most of the head and body, although the top of the head, snout and jaws are naked, except for a more-or-less isolated broad band of scales extending obliquely on each side of nape. Cheek scale rows 6 (rarely 5 or 7). Lateral line scales 49 to 53 in number, these extending onto the caudal fin base, but not to its edge. Longitudinal scale rows below lateral line usually horizontal; number of scales in row along midside usually 50-51. Scales above lateral line (between lateral line and dorsal fin base) 9 to 11, usually 10. Scales below lateral line 16 to 19. Scales on sides of anterior part of body, below lateral line, not conspicuously larger than those on posterior part; those above lateral line on anterior part of body smaller than those below. Scale rows above lateral line rising obliquely. Scaly sheaths present at the bases of the dorsal and anal fins, especially soft portions. See literature references and illustration.

Swim bladder - (Description pending).

Anal opening - (Description pending).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: [In preparation].

FISHERIES AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE: [In preparation].

FISHING METHODS: [In preparation].

MARKETED PRODUCT FORMS: [In preparation].

NOTES: This species is distinguished from the silk snapper by the eye color. In the silk snapper (Lutjanus vivanus), the iris of the eye is yellow; in the Caribbean red snapper (L. purpureus), it is red.

LITERATURE: [In preparation].