Lutjanus cyanopterus
Cubera Snapper
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Lutjanidae (Snappers)
Lutjanus
Lutjanus cyanopterus (Cubera Snapper)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Relatively large canine teeth in jaws and a rounded anal fin. Interorbital space is slightly convex. Maxilla extends to near middle of eye. Jaws have an outer row of enlarged teeth, including four large canines in upper jaw and four to six slightly larger canines in lower jaw, and an inner band of villiform teeth. Vomerine tooth patch is crescentic or triangular shaped, without a posteromedial extension. Preoperculum is serrate along posterior margin and entire along ventral margin, with serrae enlarged at corner. Gill rakers, including rudiments, on first arch number 5 to 7 on upper limb and 11 to 14 on lower limb. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 36%–37%, eye diameter 4%–6%, snout length 14%–15%, lower jaw length 15%–16%, pectoral fin length about 27%, pelvic fin length 18%–19%, body depth 29%–32%. Pectoral fin has 16 to 18 rays. Dorsal fin is slightly notched between spinous and rayed sections and has 10 spines and 14 rays. Anal fin has 7 or 8 rays, and middle rays are less than half of head length. Caudal fin is slightly emarginate to truncate. Scales in horizontal series number 56 to 59, and tubed lateral line scales number 45 to 47. Scale rows on back rise obliquely above lateral line. Scales cover proximal parts of membranes of rayed sections of dorsal and anal fins.
Color is pale to dark gray with a reddish tinge on upper half of body and pale on remainder of body. Dorsal and caudal fins are grayish, pelvic and anal fins are reddish, and pectoral fin is translucent or grayish.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Nova Scotia and Bermuda to northern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles.
Found throughout the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Associated with rocky bottoms and reefs to 40 m. Juveniles inhabit mangrove habitats.
Rocky bottoms, reefs, and mangrove habitats.
Biology
Food consists of shrimps, crabs, and ray-finned fishes.
Maximum known size is about 160 cm TL.
Adults are found mainly around ledges over rocky bottoms or around reefs. Young sometimes inhabit mangrove areas. Maximum depth from Ref. 126840. Feed mainly on fishes, shrimps and crabs (Ref. 55) and lobsters using their strong canines (Ref. 123493). A wary fish, not easily approached underwater (Ref. 13442).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU), assessed 2015-10-10. Resilience: Very low (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish.
References
Anderson 1967
Anderson 2002c
Böhlke and Chaplin 1968
Moe 1968
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Allen 1985
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Cervigón 1993b
Randall 1996
Schaldach et al. 1997
Smith 1997
Castro-Aguirre et al. 1999
Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999
Allen, G.R. (1985) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. Snappers of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of lutjanid species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(6):208 p. Rome: FAO.
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Sierra, L.M., R. Claro and O.A. Popova (1994) Alimentacion y relaciones tróficas. p. 263-284. In Rodolfo Claro (ed.) Ecología de los Peces Marinos de Cuba. Instituto de Oceanología Academia de Ciencias de Cuba and Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo, Mexico.
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