Checkered snapper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Checkered snapper |
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The checkered snapper (Lutjanus decussatus) is a type of fish found in the ocean. It is also known as the checkered seaperch or cross-hatched snapper. This fish belongs to the snapper family, called Lutjanidae. You can find it in the western parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
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About the Checkered Snapper's Name
The checkered snapper was first officially described in 1828. A French scientist named Georges Cuvier gave it the scientific name Mesoprion decussatus. He found the first known specimen in Java, Indonesia.
The word decussatus means "divided crosswise like an X." This name fits the fish perfectly. It has a cool pattern on its body. This pattern looks like a checkerboard. It is made of five red stripes going across and seven brown stripes going up and down.
What the Checkered Snapper Looks Like
The checkered snapper has a body that is fairly deep. Its body depth is about one-quarter to one-third of its total length. The top of its head slopes gently.
This fish has special teeth on the roof of its mouth. These teeth form a crescent shape. It also has small, grain-like teeth on its tongue.
Its top fin, called the dorsal fin, has 10 strong spines. It also has 13 or 14 soft rays. The fin underneath, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays. The back parts of both these fins are rounded.
Checkered snappers can grow up to 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long. However, they are usually around 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) long. Their body color can be whitish, light gray-brown, or reddish-brown. They have stripes and bars that create a checkered look on their upper sides. A big black spot is found at the base of their tail fin. Their other fins are light-colored, and the tail fin has a red stripe near its edge.
Where Checkered Snappers Live
You can find the checkered snapper across the Indo-West Pacific region. This area stretches from Sri Lanka and eastern India. It goes east to Micronesia. North, it reaches the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan. South, it extends to Australia.
In Australia, these fish live near the Dampier Archipelago. They are also found on offshore reefs in northern Western Australia. You can see them at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea. They also live on the northern Great Barrier Reef off Queensland.
These snappers prefer shallow waters. They live in depths from 2 to 30 meters (about 6 to 98 feet). They like coastal reef faces and sandy areas with scattered reefs. Sometimes, they are found on reefs farther from the coast. Young checkered snappers often live in sheltered, flat reef areas.
How Checkered Snappers Live
Adult checkered snappers can live alone. They can also swim together in small groups, called schools. They eat other fish and small sea creatures like crabs and shrimp.
Off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, these fish lay their eggs. This usually happens between June and October. The timing of their spawning is linked to the phases of the moon.
Checkered Snappers and People
People catch checkered snappers for food. They use handlines, traps, and gill nets. These fish are not a major catch for large commercial fishing companies. However, they are caught by these fisheries in some places, like the Ryukyu Islands.
Sometimes, you might see small numbers of checkered snappers in aquariums. They are kept as pets or for display.
