Mexican barred snapper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican barred snapper |
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The Mexican barred snapper (Hoplopagrus guentherii), also known as the barred pargo, is a type of fish that lives in the ocean. It's a "snapper" fish, part of a family called Lutjanidae. This fish is special because it's the only species in its group, or "genus." You can find it in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
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About the Mexican Barred Snapper
The Mexican barred snapper was first officially described in 1862. This was done by an American fish scientist named Theodore Nicholas Gill. He found it near Baja California. The name Hoplopagrus means "armed porgy." This is because the fish has a jagged cheek bone, like it's "armed." It was also thought to be similar to a type of fish called a "porgy." The second part of its name, guentherii, honors a British fish scientist named Albert Günther.
What Does It Look Like?
The Mexican barred snapper has a body that is quite deep and a bit flat from side to side. It's the deepest-bodied fish among all snappers. It has a special nose with a long, tube-like front nostril pointing down. The back nostril is in a deep groove in front of its eye.
Its mouth has strong, molar-like teeth, which are good for crushing food. It also has some teeth on the roof of its mouth. The fish has two main fins on its back and one on its belly. These fins have scales at their bases. Its long side fins reach past its rear end.
The fish is reddish-brown, with a browner head and a white chin. It has six white stripes going up and down its sides. Young snappers have pairs of stripes and a black spot near their back fin. This fish can grow up to about 92 centimeters (3 feet) long, but usually, they are around 50 centimeters (1.6 feet). The heaviest one recorded weighed about 9.6 kilograms (21 pounds).
Where Do They Live?
The Mexican barred snapper lives only in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. You can find it from southern Baja California and the northern Gulf of California all the way south to Ecuador. It also lives around islands like the Galapagos, Malpelo, and Cocos Islands.
These fish live in waters that are 3 to 50 meters (10 to 164 feet) deep. Adult snappers prefer rocky areas, especially near coral reefs and inside caves. Young snappers can be found in rocky tide pools.
How Do They Live?
The Mexican barred snapper is a hunter that comes out at night. During the day, they hide in caves and cracks in the rocks. At night, they leave their shelters to hunt for other fish and small sea creatures like crabs. Scientists don't know a lot about the daily lives of these fish.
Fishing for Mexican Barred Snappers
People sometimes catch the Mexican barred snapper for food. They use fishing nets or hooks and lines. The fish is usually sold fresh to eat.
