Credit: Illustration by Diane Rome Peebles
Family Lutjanidae
Description: color brown with a bronze tinge, lighter on sides; canine teeth very sharp, one pair notably enlarge, visible even when mouth is closed; in adults, pale triangle and a light blue interrupted line below the eye; no dark spot on body underneath dorsal fin
Similar fish: schoolmaster, L. apodus (no white triangle under eye, and fins are more yellow); other snappers
Where found: large adults offshore over coral and rocky reefs; juveniles associated with estuaries
Size: large snapper, attaining 30 pounds
Remarks: spawns from spring through fall; known as a night feeder, taking fishes, mollusks, and crustaceans
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