Dog snapper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dog snapper |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Lutjanidae
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| Genus: |
Lutjanus
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| Species: |
L. jocu
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| Binomial name | |
| Lutjanus jocu (Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)
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The dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) is a type of snapper fish. It lives in the Atlantic Ocean. This fish is important for fishing and is often seen in large public aquariums. People also call it the dogtooth snapper or snuggletooth snapper.
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What Does the Dog Snapper Look Like?
Dog snappers are usually brown with a hint of bronze. Their sides are a lighter color. Adult fish have a light triangle and a broken blue line under their eye.
These fish can grow quite large. The longest one ever found was about 128 centimeters (50 inches) long. Most dog snappers are around 60 centimeters (24 inches) long. The heaviest dog snapper ever recorded weighed about 28.6 kilograms (63 pounds)!
Where Do Dog Snappers Live?
Dog snappers live in the western Atlantic Ocean. You can find them from Massachusetts all the way down to Brazil. They also live in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
In the eastern Atlantic, they are found near Saint Paul's Rocks and south to Príncipe.
Dog Snapper Homes and Habits
Adult dog snappers usually live near rocky areas or coral reefs. Young dog snappers, called juveniles, prefer to stay in estuaries (where rivers meet the sea). Sometimes, they even swim into rivers!
Dog snappers like to be alone and are quite shy. They prefer quiet, hidden spots. They mostly hunt for food at night. Their diet includes small fish, crabs and shrimp, and snails and clams.
Dog snappers lay their eggs from spring to fall. This happens in the waters around Jamaica and the northeast Caribbean.
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