Brazilian snapper
A Brazilian endemic snapper described in 2007.
The Brazilian snapper (Lutjanus alexandrei) is a snapper species found in the tropical Atlantic waters along Brazil's coast. It was officially described as a new species in 2007 by Brazilian marine biologist Rodrigo Leão de Moura and American marine scientist Kenyon C. Lindeman, with the type specimen collected at Camurupim Reef near Tamandaré in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Its scientific name honors Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira, a pioneering Brazilian naturalist.
This fish has a fairly deep body, with a depth averaging about 40% of its standard length. It features a long, pointed snout and a large, protractile mouth. Each jaw holds a row of conical teeth; the front pair in the upper jaw are enlarged into fang-like teeth that are visible even when the mouth is shut. The lower jaw also has pairs of pointed, canine-like conical teeth. The vomerine teeth form an anchor-shaped patch with a noticeable extension behind its center. The dorsal fin is continuous, with 10 spines in front and 14 soft rays behind, separated by a slight notch. The anal fin has three spines and eight soft rays. The preoperculum is serrated and has a poorly developed notch and knob. Color varies, but the fish is usually reddish with more or less clear vertical bands on the body and sometimes a diagonal band across the eyes. Blue spots on the face help distinguish it from similar species: an irregular line runs from the corner of the mouth to the edge of the operculum, with another short row behind the eye and a few scattered spots on the cheek. The largest recorded standard length is 24.3 cm (9.6 in), and the heaviest published weight is 199.9 g (7.05 oz).
The Brazilian snapper is endemic to Brazil's coast in the western Atlantic, recorded from Maranhão state south to the southern coast of Bahia in the Northeast Region. It lives from tidal shallows down to 54 m (177 ft) deep, inhabiting coral reefs, rocky shores, brackish coastal lagoons, mangroves, and other shallow-water areas with a mix of soft and hard substrates. Juveniles are more common in mangroves and other shallow habitats, often schooling with juvenile dog snapper (L. jocu).
Like other snappers, it is a nocturnal predator. During the day, adults are found alone or in groups on reefs, often mixed with dog snappers.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Lutjanus alexandrei
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Brazilian snapper has a relatively deep body with a mean depth around 40% of its standard length. It has a long, pointed snout and a large terminal mouth, which is protractile. A row of conical teeth is on each jaw, with the anterior pair in the upper jaw enlarged into fang-like teeth that are visible when the mouth is closed. Pairs of canine-like, pointed, conical teeth are also in the lower jaw. The vomerine teeth are arranged in an anchor-shaped patch with an obvious extension behind its center. The dorsal fin is continuous with 10 spines and 14 soft rays, with a slight notch at the boundary between the spiny and soft-rayed parts. The anal fin has three spines and eight soft rays. The preoperculum is serrated and has a poorly developed notch and knob.
This species is variable in color, but normally reddish marked with more-or-less clear vertical bands on the body and sometimes a diagonal band over the eyes. Blue spots on the face run in an irregular line from the corner of the mouth to the edge of the operculum, with another brief row behind the eye and a small number dispersed on the cheek, allowing identification compared to similar species. The Brazilian snapper is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, endemic to the coast of Brazil from Maranhão to the southern coast of Bahia. It inhabits tidal shallows to 54 m depth on coral reefs, rocky shores, coastal lagoons with brackish water, mangroves, and other shallow-water habitats with a mosaic of soft and hard substrates. Juveniles are more common in mangroves and other shallow-water habitats, often in mixed schools with juvenile dog snapper (L. jocu). Adults are nocturnal predators, found solitarily or in groups on reefs during the day, often mixed with dog snappers.
Reader's Guide
The Brazilian snapper is notable as a recently described species, first formally recognized in 2007, highlighting ongoing discoveries in the western Atlantic snapper fauna. Its description by Brazilian and American scientists underscores collaborative taxonomic work. The species is endemic to the Brazilian coast, restricted to a range from Maranhão to southern Bahia, and occupies diverse shallow-water habitats including coral reefs, mangroves, and coastal lagoons. Its identification is aided by distinctive blue spots on the face, which differentiate it from similar snappers. The species reaches a maximum standard length of 24.3 cm and a maximum published weight of 199.9 g. Ecologically, it is a nocturnal predator, with adults often associating with dog snappers. Juveniles frequent mangroves and mix with juvenile dog snappers, indicating shared nursery habitats. The Brazilian snapper's restricted range and specific habitat preferences make it a component of Brazil's coastal biodiversity, though the article provides no information on conservation status or threats. Its recognition adds to the known diversity of the genus Lutjanus in the tropical Atlantic.
Did You Know?
- Its specific name honors pioneering Brazilian naturalist Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira.
- Juveniles are often found in mixed schools with juvenile dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu).
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