Mangrove red snapper facts for kids
The mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) is a type of fish known as a snapper. In Australia, people often call it the mangrove jack. This fish has many other names too, like creek red bream or river roman.
Quick facts for kids Mangrove red snapper |
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| Lutjanus argentimaculatus from New Caledonia | |
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Lutjanidae
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Lutjanus
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L. argentimaculatus
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| Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskål, 1775)
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Contents
Where Mangrove Red Snappers Live
The mangrove red snapper lives in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. You can find them from the coast of Africa all the way to Samoa and the Line Islands. They also live from the Ryukyus in the north down to Australia in the south.
Sometimes, these fish have been seen near Lebanon in the Mediterranean Sea. They likely traveled there from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. However, they do not usually live in the Mediterranean Sea.
What Mangrove Red Snappers Look Like
The color of a mangrove red snapper can change. It might be burnt orange, copper, bronze, or a dark reddish-brown. Their color depends on how old they are and where they live.
Younger fish caught in estuary areas are often darker. They might also have lighter stripes on their sides. Older fish from offshore reefs tend to be lighter in color.
Their Teeth
Like other snappers from tropical areas, mangrove jacks have strong, pointed teeth. These are called canine teeth. They use these teeth to grab and hold their prey. Fishers need to be careful, as these teeth can cause a painful injury.
How to Tell Them Apart
In reef areas, people sometimes confuse mangrove red snappers with the two-spot red snapper (Lutjanus bohar). The two-spot red snapper can carry a poison called ciguatera toxin.
However, there are ways to tell them apart. The two-spot red snapper is usually darker. It also has fewer spines on its back fin. Its scales on the back rise diagonally from its side line. It also has a deep groove from its nose to its eyes.
What Mangrove Red Snappers Eat
Mangrove red snappers are meat-eaters, which means they are predators. They mostly hunt and eat at night. Their diet includes other fish, crabs, shrimp, snails, and squid.
They are ambush predators. This means they hide and wait for their prey. They often live near mangrove roots, fallen trees, or rock walls. These places offer good hiding spots where smaller animals also seek protection.
Where They Live and How They Behave
As their name suggests, mangrove red snappers are often found in mangrove areas. These are places where rivers meet the sea. However, they travel to offshore reefs to lay their eggs.
As they grow older, mangrove red snappers move into open waters. They can travel hundreds of kilometers from the coast to breed. Larger fish are sometimes caught by fishers using strong fishing gear. Even with heavy tackle, they are hard to catch. This is because they are very fast and live near sharp reef bottoms.
Fishing for Mangrove Red Snappers
The mangrove red snapper is a popular fish for both commercial and sport fishing. People all over the world enjoy catching them. They are also considered a very good fish to eat.
For fishers, a hooked mangrove red snapper is easy to spot. It makes a very fast run for cover once it takes the bait or lure. Many fish and lures are lost because the snapper quickly reaches the safety of underwater obstacles. This is due to its amazing burst of speed.
The mangrove red snapper is highly valued as a food fish. It has firm, white meat that tastes sweet. While some fishers might find them a bother when trying to catch barramundi, many people think the mangrove jack tastes even better.
See also
In Spanish: Pargo de los manglares para niños
