YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER – Ocyurus chrysurus
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Description: back and upper sides olive to bluish with yellow spots; lower sides and belly with alternating narrow, longitudinal pink and yellow stripes; prominent mid lateral yellow stripe begins at mouth and runs to tail, broadening as it passes the dorsal fins; caudal fin yellow and deeply forked; no dark lateral spots. […]
VERMILION SNAPPER – Rhomboplites aurorubens
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color of entire body reddish,with a series of short, irregular lines on its sides, diagonal blue lines formed by spots on the scales above the lateral line; sometimes with yellow streaks below the lateral line; large canine teeth absent; orientation of mouth and eye give it the appearance of looking upward; […]
SILK SNAPPER – Lutjanus vivanus
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: back and upper sides pinkish red, shading to silvery sides with undulating yellow lines; pectoral fins pale yellow; back edge of caudal fin blackish; anal fin pointed; no dark lateral spot; yellow eye. Similar fish: red snapper, L. campechanus. Where found: OFFSHORE over rocky ledges in very deep water; most common […]
SCHOOLMASTER – Lutjanus apodus
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color olive gray on upper sides with yellow tinge, sometimes with reddish tinge around head; long triangular snout; eight pale vertical bars on the side of the body; yellow fins; blue stripe below eye, becoming interrupted in adults; no dark lateral spot. Similar fish: dog snapper, L. jocu; other snappers. Where […]
RED SNAPPER – Lutjanus campechanus
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color pinkish red over entire body, whitish below; long triangular snout; anal fin sharply pointed; no dark lateral spot; red eye. Similar fish: silk snapper, L. vivanus. Where found: OFFSHORE on the continental shelf, more plentiful off the Panhandle than in south or middle Florida. Size: to 20 pounds Remarks: juveniles […]
QUEEN SNAPPER – Etelis oculatus
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color of back and upper sides red, lower sides; silvery body long and slender; dorsal fin distinctly notched; large eyes; caudal fin deeply forked; no dark lateral spot. Similar fish: other snappers. Where found: OFFSHORE over rocky reefs of the continental shelf to 450 feet; young suspend at mid-depths. Size: small […]
MUTTON SNAPPER – Lutjanus analis
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color olive green on back and upper sides, all fins below the lateral line having reddish tinge; bright blue line below eye, following contour of operculum; anal fin pointed; small black spot below dorsal fin; V-shaped tooth patch on roof of mouth. Similar fish: lane snapper, L. synagris (anal fin pointed […]
MAHOGANY SNAPPER – Lutjanus mahogoni
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color grayish-olive with a reddish tinge; conspicuous dark spot, about the size of the eye, below the soft dorsal fin, 1/4 to 1/2 of it below the lateral line; the large eye and caudal fin are bright red; lower margin of the preopercle has prominent spur with strong and sharp serrations. […]
LANE SNAPPER – Lutjanus synagris
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color silvery-pink to reddish with short, irregular pink and yellow lines on its sides; diffuse black spot, about as large as the eye; the dorsal fin centered above the lateral line; outer margin of caudal fin blackish. Similar fish: mutton snapper, L. analis (anal fin rounded in lane snapper, pointed in […]
GRAY SNAPPER (mangrove snapper) – Lutjanus griseus
Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Descriptions: color dark brown or gray with reddish or orange spots in rows along the sides; dark horizontal band from snout through eye (young only); two conspicuous canine teeth at front of upper jaw; dorsal fins have dark or reddish borders; no spot on side underneath dorsal fin. Similar fish: cubera snapper, […]