Snappers (Lutjanidae)

The Snappers are represented by 9 deep-water species and 2 shallow-water endemic species. Because of their commercial value, The Hawaii’s Division of Fish and Game introduced 3 French Polynesian species as early as 1956, two of which were successfully integrated. The 2 types of Hawaiian Snappers are open-water predators that regularly feed on reef fish. Morphologically their oblong bodies, sometimes 2 to 3 feet in length, are bordered by a forked caudal fin, an uninterrupted dorsal fin, and are fronted by a large head of equally sized jaws. Snappers are usually uniformly colored with bright red or yellow tones, although some species have specific color patterns like the bluestripe snapper shown on the right. The family are generally active, voracious carnivors that patrol the islands’ shorelines.

Hawaiian Marine Fauna

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