Marine Life

Snapper

Raiy reendhoo mas

Lutjanus rufolineatus

The two specimens reported here are the only record of Lutjanus rufolineatus from the Maldives, and indeed from the entire central Indian Ocean; the previous most westerly records were from the Indian Ocean coast of Sumatra. This species was previously misidentified as Lutjanus boutton in the Catalogue of Fishes of the Maldives.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 30 cm
color: Pink with about 10 pale yellow stripes on sides. Fins mainly yellowish. Upper pectoral axil brown. Some specimens with a black spot on back below anterior part of soft dorsal fin.
order: Perciformes
family: Lutjanidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/lutjanus-rufolineatus.png
habitat and biology: This species is typically found inhabiting coral reefs in depths ranging from 15 to 100 meters. They often form schools of up to 30-40 individuals and feed mainly on fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods, and some plankton.
distinctive characters: This species has a dorsal fin with 10 or 11 spines and 13 or 14 rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays, a pectoral fin with 16 or 17 rays, a body depth of 2.4-2.6 in standard length, scale rows that rise obliquely above the lateral line, a crescentic tooth patch on the roof of the mouth without a posterior extension, and a distinct preopercular notch and interopercular knob.