Family LUTJANIDAE

Lutjaninae

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CAAB: 37346000

Family LUTJANIDAE

Fusilers, Hussars, Snappers, Tropical Snappers

Compiler and date details

7 November 2011 - Gerald R. Allen, Norbert J. Cross, Connie J. Allen, Douglass F. Hoese & Matthew M. Lockett

December 2006 - Gerald R. Allen, Norbert J. Cross, Connie J. Allen & Douglass F. Hoese

Introduction

Lutjanids are found in all the tropical and subtropical seas. Worldwide, the family comprises 123 species in 21 genera. A total of 66 species in 15 genera are known from Australia. Parapristipomoides squamimaxillaris (Kami, 1973) has been recorded from the Chesterfield Bank in the Coral Sea and may occur within the Australian Region.

Nelson (1994) recognised five subfamilies, but these divisions are not used here. Most species belong in the Lutjaninae (snappers or seabream), and the Caesioninae (fusiliers); the Caesioninae are often recognised as a separate family (Nelson 2006). The snappers were reviewed by Allen (1985) and the fusiliers by Carpenter (1987, 1988). The 39 species of Lutjanus that inhabit the Indo-west Pacific were reviewed by Allen & Talbot (1985). Australian species are treated in Anderson & Allen (2001) and Carpenter (2001). Relationships were discussed by Johnson (1980).

Members of the Lutjanidae are generalised percoid fishes with a robust, relatively elongate body, single dorsal fin (frequently containing 10 or 11 spines), and the jaws usually contain well-developed canine teeth. The maximum length is about 1 m (Lutjanus sebae), but most species are under 50 cm (60 cm for fusiliers). Lutjanids are important food fishes and are often seen in markets.

Fusiliers (Caesioninae) are closely related to snappers (Lutjaninae) with which they share a number of similarities. However, fusiliers have a distinctive jaw morphology: the upper jaw is highly protrusible, an adaptation for a planktonic diet. In addition, they are generally more slender than most snappers, and the tail is strongly forked.

Fusiliers are restricted to warm seas of the Indo-west Pacific region where they frequently form large colourful schools, swimming in midwater above the reef. Most species are associated with coral reefs, although members of the genera Etelis, Lipocheilus, Paracaesio, Pristipomoides and Randallichthys are associated with continental shelf waters to depths as great as 500 m. Some species are solitary in habit, whereas others form large aggregations. Their diet includes a variety of items. The reef-dwelling species feed mainly on small fishes, but other items such as crabs, shrimps, gastropods and cephalopods are also consumed. Zooplankton is particularly important in the diet of species of Pinjalo, Paracaesio and Pristipomoides.