SNAPPERFISH

Kingdom :Animalia Phylum :Chordata Class :Teleostomi Order :Perciformes Family :Lutjanidae Genus :Lutjanus

Local name:Chem Kalava,Chemballi

Taxonomy

Is a demersal fish found in tropical-subtropical Is a demersal fish found in tropical-subtropical and temperate areas, ranging from shallow and temperate areas, ranging from shallow coastal waters to considerable depths coastal waters to considerable depths ((continental slopecontinental slope).).Many species are associated with coral reef areas whereas few may enter rivers and brackishwaters during the juvenile phase.Snappers are medium (300 – 600 mm) to Snappers are medium (300 – 600 mm) to large (> 600 mm) fishes with some species large (> 600 mm) fishes with some species reaching total lengths well over 1m.reaching total lengths well over 1m.

Common Names: Mangrove Red Snapper, Red Snapper, River snapper Distribution:West Bengal,Chilka Lake,Ponnani Estuary,Andaman & Nicobar Islands,Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu,Karnataka

Lutjanus argentimaculatus  

L. argentimaculatus is distinguished from the L. bohar by its longer snout,truncate tail and more bronze to greenish coloration. •Juveniles have a series of about eight whitish bars crossing sides and 1 or 2 blue lines across cheek. 

Commercially important fish(sport fish, ornamental fish & aquaculture)

Lutjanus gibbusCommon NamesHumpback Snapper, Humpback red snapper

Distribution:Tamil Nadu, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Kerala

Commercially important fish(sport fish & aquarium fish)

•Mouth somewhat oblique. •The fins are red or frequently brown to blackish.• The soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins have narrow white margins. Juveniles with a large, round, black spot at the base of the caudal fin.

Common Name:John’s snapper

Distribution:Goa,Gujarat,Ayiramthengu;Kerala,Andaman & Nicobar Islands,Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu

•A large black blotch above the lateral line below the anterior dorsal-fin rays. •Center of each scale often with a reddish-brown spot, giving an overall appearance of series of horizontal lines on side of body.

A single species visiting freshwater

Lutjanus johnii  

Commercially important fish(sport fish & aquaculture)

Lutjanus rivulatusCommon Names: Blubberlip snapper,Speckled Snapper

•Mouth oblique. •10 Dorsal spines, 15-16 Dorsal soft rays; 3 Anal spines, 8 Anal soft rays.Juveniles with a series of 3 to 8 brown bars on sides and a chalky-white spot, with a broad blackish margin, present below anterior soft dorsal ray. Large adults brownish to grey with small white spots and fine striations on the head.

Distribution: Chennai, Arabian Sea, Karnataka, Kerala,West BengalCommercially important fish(sport

fish,aquaculture & excellent foodfish)

Lutjanus fulviflamma

The scale rows on its back rise obliquely above the lateral line.•A series of six or seven horizontal yellow stripes runs on the side, mainly below the lateral line. •The belly, most of the caudal peduncle, and fins are yellowish.• A prominent black spot is on the lateral line below the first few soft dorsal fin rays.

Common Names: Blackspot snapper, Dory snapper

Commercially important fish(sport fish & aquarium fish)

Typical perch-like fishes, Typical perch-like fishes, moderately elongate moderately elongate to deepbodied,compressed.to deepbodied,compressed.Body is covered with ctenoid scales. Anterior Body is covered with ctenoid scales. Anterior part of the head (snout & preorbital area) is part of the head (snout & preorbital area) is without scales.without scales.Mouth is terminal & protrusible.Teeth is Mouth is terminal & protrusible.Teeth is present on vomer and palatines.present on vomer and palatines. preopercle preopercle serrate.serrate.Dorsal fin is continuous with 10 to 12 spines Dorsal fin is continuous with 10 to 12 spines and 10 to 17 soft rays.Anal fin with 3 spines and 10 to 17 soft rays.Anal fin with 3 spines and 7 to 11 soft rays.and 7 to 11 soft rays.Pelvic fin with 1 spine and 5 soft rays, set Pelvic fin with 1 spine and 5 soft rays, set further back than the pectoral fin bases.further back than the pectoral fin bases.Caudal fin is truncate to deeply forked.Caudal fin is truncate to deeply forked.24 vertebrae(10+14).24 vertebrae(10+14). Lateral line is complete, straight or curved.Lateral line is complete, straight or curved.

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most diagnostic feature of the fish, most diagnostic feature of the fish, especially when alive or fresh from the water. especially when alive or fresh from the water. isis highly variable, mainly from yellow highly variable, mainly from yellow through red to blue, often with blotches, lines through red to blue, often with blotches, lines or other patterns.or other patterns.

Snappers are active predatorsopportunistic carnivores that feed at night on a variety of items (crustaceans,fishes, cuttlefish and worms).Larger, deep-bodied snappers are equipped with large canine teeth for seizing and holding the prey.

Reasons for migration search of food & spawning.

Migrations and aggregations related to spawning arereported for species of the subfamilies Lutjaninae and Paradicichtyinae from both sides of the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific oceans.

Medium sized schooling species do not migrate or form spawning aggregations.

Large and solitary species migrate and form aggregations during the spawning season.

Snappers are dioecious and gonochoristic organisms.Sexual differentiation remains constant throughout their life span.Lutjanids are batch spawners with individual females spawning several times during the year.

Spawning behaviour occurs every night, over a period of one month from mid May to mid June with water temperatures ranging from 24 to 26°C.

On average, lutjanids reach their maturity at about 43 to 51 % of the maximum total length, with males maturing at a slightly smaller size than females.

Bottom trawls, nets, hooks, spears, handlines , longlines and traps.

According to CMFRI Annual Report 2006 – 07,landings of groupers and snappers were an estimated 5443 t and showed an increase of 24% compared to previous year.CMFRI Annual Report of the year 2007- 08 Lethrinids formed 9,288 t forming 31.8% of perch landings followed by lutjanids 2,111t (7.2 %) and groupers 2,285 t (7.8%).

According to CMFRI Annual Report 2008- 09,specimens of 26 species of the family Lutjanidae were collected from the different landing centres using different gears.

In Mumbai, the catch of Lutjanus johnii was quite unusual for purse-seines.  The landing showed an increase from 34,212 t in 2008 to 44,175 t in 2009. Lethrinids formed 38.7% of perch production followed by threadfin breams (18.7%),snappers, 3217 t (7.3%) and groupers (3.3%).

According to CMFRI Annual Report 2009-10, a total of 31 species of fishes of the family Lutjanidae were collected from the selected landing centers by different gears.In 2010 the production of perches is about 27%. That is only 1% increase is obtained.

2010-11

2011-12

During 2011-12 the production of perches is about 28% from which snapper give production of,7286t (3%).

Decreases in natural populations of snappers can be increased by developing techniques for reproducing them in captivity, either for fishery enhancement

ORfor commercial cultivation.

Snapperfish are of high commercial value form a sizeable part of the catches.

Most species are marketed fresh;sometimes they are frozen or dry-salted.

The flesh is delicious in taste & used as food. Some species of Lutjanus popular aquarium fishes.popular aquarium fishes. used as sport fishes.used as sport fishes. Snack of redsnapper

SnappersSnappers are a family of perciform fish, are a family of perciform fish, LutjanidaeLutjanidae, mainly marine, but with some , mainly marine, but with some members inhabiting estuaries. members inhabiting estuaries.

They They form a sizeable part of the catches and form a sizeable part of the catches and exported to different parts of the world.exported to different parts of the world.

The aggregative behaviour and reef based distribution make lutjanids particularly vulnerable to exploitation.