Midnight Snapper, Macolor macularis (Fowler, 1931)

Scientific name: Macolor macularis
Alternative name/s:
Midnight Seaperch
Similar species:
It looks similar to the Black and White Snapper, Macolor niger. The two species can be separated by their colouration.
Midnight Seaperch, Macolor macularis Click to enlarge image
A Midnight Seaperch at a depth of 17m, 'Gothic City', Niue, 26 July 2012. Image: Hickson Fergusson
© Hickson Fergusson

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Macolor
    Species
    macularis
    Family
    Lutjanidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to 55 cm in length.

Introduction

The Midnight Snapper is a tropical species that has a yellowish-brown head with blue spots and lines.

Identification

The Midnight Snapper is a stout bodied fish that can be recognised by its colouration. It has a yellowish-brown head with blue spots and lines. The iris is usually yellow. Juveniles are black and white. The spinous and soft portions of the dorsal fin are deeply divided and they have very long slender pelvic fins.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.