Twospot Snapper, Lutjanus biguttatus (Valenciennes, 1830)

Scientific name: Lutjanus biguttatus
Twospot Snapper Click to enlarge image
A Twospot Snapper at a depth of 12m, south of Onemobaa Island, Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia, 3 September 2012. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Lutjanus
    Species
    biguttatus
    Family
    Lutjanidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 20 cm in length.

Introduction

The Twospot Snapper is a slender fish. It is dark brown above, paler brown-yellow below, and has a broad white stripe laterally. There are two white spots high on the back.

Identification

The Twospot Snapper is a slender fish. It is dark brown above, paler brown-yellow below, and has a broad white stripe laterally. There are two white spots high on the back.

Distribution

It occurs on coral reefs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known from off the north-western coast of Western Australia and 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. 1985. Snappers of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Lutjanid Species Known to Date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 6. FAO. Rome. Pp. 208, Pl. I-XXVII.
  2. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.