Snappers are a family of fish found in tropical and temperate waters around the world. They range in size from medium to large and some species can reach over 1 meter in length. Several species of snappers are commercially important as food fish, for sport fishing, and for aquariums. Snappers support important fisheries but some populations have declined due to overfishing of spawning aggregations. Management efforts include aquaculture to enhance wild stocks and meet commercial demand.

1. SNAPPERFISH

2. Kingdom :Animalia
Phylum :Chordata
Class :Teleostomi
Order :Perciformes
Family :Lutjanidae
Genus :Lutjanus
Local name:Chem Kalava,Chemballi
Taxonomy

3. Is a demersal fish found in tropical-subtropical andIs a demersal fish found in tropical-subtropical and
temperate areas, ranging from shallow coastal waters totemperate areas, ranging from shallow coastal waters to
considerable depthsconsiderable 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 large (> 600Snappers are medium (300 – 600 mm) to large (> 600
mm) fishes with some species reaching total lengths wellmm) fishes with some species reaching total lengths well
over 1m.over 1m.

4. 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)

5. Lutjanus gibbus
Common Names
Humpback 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.

6. 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)

7. Lutjanus rivulatus
Common 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 Bengal
Commercially important fish(sport fish,aquaculture
& excellent foodfish)

8. 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)

9. Typical perch-like fishes,Typical perch-like fishes, moderately elongate tomoderately elongate to
deepbodied,compressed.deepbodied,compressed.
Body is covered with ctenoid scales. Anterior part ofBody is covered with ctenoid scales. Anterior part of
the head (snout & preorbital area) is without scales.the head (snout & preorbital area) is without scales.
Mouth is terminal & protrusible.Teeth is present onMouth is terminal & protrusible.Teeth is present on
vomer and palatines.vomer and palatines. preopercle serrate.preopercle serrate.
Dorsal fin is continuous with 10 to 12 spines and 10 toDorsal fin is continuous with 10 to 12 spines and 10 to
17 soft rays.Anal fin with 3 spines and 7 to 11 soft rays.17 soft rays.Anal fin with 3 spines and 7 to 11 soft rays.
Pelvic fin with 1 spine and 5 soft rays, set further backPelvic fin with 1 spine and 5 soft rays, set further back
than the pectoral fin bases.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.
.

10. most diagnostic feature of the fish, especially whenmost diagnostic feature of the fish, especially when
alive or fresh from the water.alive or fresh from the water.
isis highly variable, mainly from yellow through red tohighly variable, mainly from yellow through red to
blue, often with blotches, lines or other patterns.blue, often with blotches, lines or other patterns.
Snappers are active predators
opportunistic 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.

11. Reasons for migration
 search of food & spawning.
Migrations and aggregations related to spawning are
reported 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.

12. 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.

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

14. 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%).

15. 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%).

16. 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

17. 2011-12
During 2011-12 the production of perches is about 28%
from which snapper give production of,7286t (3%).

18. Decreases in natural populations of snappers can be
increased by
developing techniques for reproducing them in
captivity, either for fishery enhancement
OR
for commercial cultivation.

19. 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

20. SnappersSnappers are a family of perciform fish,are a family of perciform fish, LutjanidaeLutjanidae,,
mainly marine, but with some members inhabitingmainly marine, but with some members inhabiting
estuaries.estuaries.
TheyThey form a sizeable part of the catches and exportedform a sizeable part of the catches and exported
to different parts of the world.to different parts of the world.
The aggregative behaviour and reef based distribution
make lutjanids particularly vulnerable to exploitation.